PUBLISHED ONMarch 28, 2014 8:30 AM
What: Second Helpings
Where: PasarBella @ The Grandstand in Bukit Timah (formerly known as Turf City), open: Saturdays and Sundays, 9.30am to 7pm (check out its Facebook and Instagram pages for its schedule)
Info: Go to www.facebook.com/secondhelpings.sg or follow @_secondhelpings on Instagram
Health-conscious office manager Ezra Nicholas loves peanut butter, but he has always been concerned about the artificial colours, flavouring, preservatives and hydrogenated oils used in commercial spreads.
"I studied food and nutrition in school and I know these things are not natural and not good for you," says the 29-year-old, who has a degree in sports science from University of Western Australia.
So his wife, Ms Tannie Tang, 28, who is an avid baker and cook, decided to make some for him. The former civil servant looked up recipes online and modified them through trial and error.
Her jams are made with peanuts, sea salt and honey instead of sugar. They contain no artificial ingredients, including thickeners, which means they are runnier than usual.
The result was a hit with family and friends, who encouraged them to sell the peanut butter. So the couple rented a booth at an arts festival bazaar organised by flea market organiser Public Garden two years ago.
Their peanut butter comes in three flavours - original, cocoa, and coconut and vanilla - and is priced from $8 for 100ml to $42 for a litre.
They are now at PasarBella, a farmer's market at The Grandstand in Bukit Timah (formerly known as Turf City), almost every weekend. They also began taking orders on Facebook and Instagram last month. They declined to reveal the rental.
On average, they sell 200 bottles of peanut butter a weekend.
"The response has been good and we see many returning customers. Many of them would come up to us and thank us for providing them with good and healthy food," says Ms Tang, 28, who quit her job last December to focus on the business. "That really makes our day."
She believes demand for locally made products is growing and sees this as the time to set up a business before family commitments, such as raising children, get in the way.
They intend to serve up other flavours next and have expanded the product range to include scented sugars. Wedding favours and gift hamper services are also available.
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