• There are different opinions on the origin of kaya. One source claims that kaya originated from the Malays, probably from Indonesia or Malaysia, as the word kaya in Malay means “rich”, referring to the golden-yellow rich texture of the jam. Another source claims that kaya is the localised version of the Portuguese egg jam, where the original ingredients such as milk and vanilla beans were replaced by coconut milk and pandan leaves respectively, resulting in a local-flavoured jam.
• In the mid-twentieth century, many coffeeshops operated by the Hainanese offered kaya toast (kaya spread over toasted bread) on their menu, which helped to popularise kaya.

Kaya toast is the indigenous breakfast item in Nanyang coffeeshops. It has become an indispensable experience in modern life, all thanks to the charm in the kaya paste. （Shin Min Daily News, 19/8/2018）