FAQ
Our Company
Q: When was Eastern Rice Dumpling established?
A: Eastern Rice Dumpling is a third-generation business whose recipe has been passed down for about 40 years to date. Mr Lim Cheng Hwee is currently the Managing Director that runs the food business.
Q: What is the vision of Eastern Rice Dumpling?
A: Eastern Rice Dumpling strives to delight our customers through continuous improvement and innovation. This means enhancing processes so that more consistency and quality can be achieved in the rice dumplings, as well as inventing new products and flavours.
Our Rice Dumplings
Q: What are the more popular types of rice dumplings?
A: The more popular dumplings with our customers have been the Nyonya Rice Dumpling and the Hokkien Rice Dumpling.
Q: What are the unique features of your rice dumplings?
A: Eastern Rice Dumpling is a famous traditional dumpling maker who has 40 years of experience in this industry. Our unique features lie in the distinct quality and taste of the rice dumplings which have established our brand's reputation.
Q: Where are your rice dumplings made?
A: Our rice dumplings are made in two factories (Balestier and Aljunied) where tight quality control is observed. They would be delivered to all outlets across Singapore.
Q: Where can we buy your rice dumplings?
A: Our rice dumplings are available at 300 Balestier Road as well as nine other outlets at shopping malls in the heartlands. You can may order online from this website.
Q: How should rice dumplings be eaten?
A: Rice dumplings are best eaten when they are steamed, but may also be eaten as sold. If the rice dumplings are not consumed on the day of purchase, they should be placed in the refrigerator (chiller), where they can be kept for up to four days before consumption, or in the freezer for one month.
Q: How should we reheat the rice dumplings after refrigeration for consumption?
A: From the chiller, steam over boiling water for 15 minutes or boil for 12 minutes in boiling water. If frozen, defrost in the chiller overnight or at room temperature for 3 hours, then steam over boiling water on medium heat for 15 minutes.
Q: What are the perks of purchasing your rice dumplings?
A: Eastern Rice Dumpling is not only concerned about producing quality and tasty rice dumplings—we provide attractive gift sets that customers can feel proud of when presenting the rice dumplings as gifts to friends and relatives.
Q: Does Eastern Rice Dumpling produce other food products?
A: Eastern Rice Dumpling only specialises in producing rice dumplings. We do sell other products at our stores such as Tu Tu Kueh, Ang Ku Kueh and Muah Chee, but other suppliers manufacture them.
The Art of Making Rice Dumplings
Q: What kinds of ingredients are used for making rice dumplings?
A: The primary ingredient to all rice dumplings is the glutinous rice and the pandan/bamboo leaves. The other ingredients will depend on the type of dumpling, which may include meat, beans, coriander, egg yolk, pepper and the five spices.
Q: What are the processes involved in making rice dumplings?
A: The production of rice dumplings follows a precise process to ensure rice dumplings are cooked to perfection. The primary steps include washing the pandan/bamboo leaves, preparing the ingredients, seasoning the meat, cooking the rice and wrapping the rice dumplings.
Q: How long does it take to make a rice dumpling?
A: The whole process of making rice dumplings, from the preparing the ingredients to cooking of the rice dumplings, takes about eight hours. Five hours are spent soaking the rice in water while the other three hours are spent preparing the dumplings.
Q: How long does it take to wrap a rice dumpling?
A: The wrapping of rice dumplings is a skill that takes practice. The trained employee can wrap about 200 rice dumplings in an hour.
Q: How is technology involved in making rice dumplings?
A: Technology has helped improve the efficiency, effectiveness, safety and hygiene of the dumpling making process. Examples of technological processes involved include:
1) Timers are used to control the eight boilers to ensure the consistency is right.
2) Mechanical meat cookers are used to ensure the safety of workers.
3) A multipurpose mixer is used to rinse the rice and add the seasoned meat with additional powders (manual mixing would cause excessive fatigue to the workers).
Q: What is so difficult about making rice dumplings?
A: The difficult part about making rice dumplings is the process of cooking the rice. Adequate water levels are necessary to cook the perfect rice dumpling. If there is inadequate moisture, the rice would be hard and burnt, whilst if there is too much water, the rice would be soggy. The skills required to wrap dumplings also take much practice to perfect.
Q: How do you ensure the freshness of the rice dumplings you sell?
A: Eastern Rice Dumpling operates our main Balestier shop and factories 24 hours a day and seven days a week so that customers can get fresh rice dumplings anytime throughout the day.
Our People
Q: Who are the people behind Eastern Rice Dumpling?Â
A: The main person currently behind Eastern Rice Dumpling is Mr Lim Cheng Hwee. However, it was his grandmother who was responsible for perfecting the Nyonya Rice Dumpling. Our employees have also been loyal and dedicated in their work over the years to build up a strong reputation for the company.
Q: Why did Mr Lim decide to carry on the family business?Â
A: Mr Lim decided to carry on the family business because he wanted to keep the rice dumpling tradition alive and allow his customers, current and future, to taste his grandmother's rice dumpling recipes. His grandmother's recipes were well known in the market and he would like to uphold her reputation.
Q: Why did Mr Lim become an engineer before starting Eastern Rice Dumpling?
A: The reason Mr Lim undertook an engineering course was to educate himself on mechanical processes so that he could ramp up production of his family's rice dumplings. Mr Lim also sponsors engineering projects organised by polytechnics as he is enthusiastic about sharing his skills and experiences with the younger generation.
Our Customers
Q: Who usually eats rice dumplings?
A: Rice dumplings do not pertain to any particular group of people; they are eaten by consumers from almost every age group. Housewives usually purchase the rice dumplings and share them with family members.
Q: What are people's habits of eating rice dumplings?
A: Rice dumplings are ideal as a convenient takeaway lunch or consumed as a snack. At Eastern Rice Dumpling, we offer many different flavours to ensure our consumers receive good variety. Rice dumplings are also traditional foods that celebrate the annual Dragon Boat Festival, thus customers tend to purchase more rice dumplings during the festive season.
Q: How many customers does Eastern Rice Dumpling currently have?
A: Over the 40 years, Eastern Rice Dumpling has had a following of many loyal customers. However, we have not quantified that figure.
Q: Who do you see as your most important customer?
A: We do not segregate our customers. All customers are important whether they purchase just one rice dumpling or a dozen dumplings. Order yours now!