Spreads

Spreads are where Asian breakfast gets interesting, and this collection is built around the greatest of them: kaya — the coconut and egg jam of Malaysia and Singapore — alongside its cousins and the peanut butters that need no introduction.

Kaya deserves the fanfare. Coconut milk, eggs, sugar and time, cooked down into a thick, fragrant jam: spread on hot toast with a slice of cold butter, it is the kopitiam breakfast that Singapore and Malaysia run on. The pandan version, green and vanilla-scented, is the more fragrant of the two; the traditional brown kaya, caramelised deeper, is the richer. Dollee, Habhal's and Happy brand each have their loyalists, and trying more than one is the only way to find yours. Coco jam and matamis na bao are the Filipino relatives — pure coconut caramel, glorious on everything from toast to rice cakes.

Beyond coconut, there is crunchy and smooth peanut butter for the everyday shelf and liver spread for the Filipino breakfast table.

Kaya keeps well in the cupboard until opened, then lives in the fridge — though it rarely lasts long enough to test the limits. All spreads are delivered UK-wide from our Manchester store, with free delivery on orders over £75.