Double Pagoda is a Singapore-origin food brand primarily recognised for its sesame oil and sesame-based cooking products. The brand is closely linked to Chee Seng Oil Factory Pte. Ltd., a local oil manufacturer with historical roots dating back to 1943. While the company’s corporate history begins in Singapore during the mid-20th century, the brand’s identity draws on the founder’s ancestral heritage from Fujian, China. Its product range has evolved to meet the demands of modern Asian cuisine.

The origins of Double Pagoda are tied to Lim Tai Tin, who established the oil business that would become Chee Seng Oil Factory in 1943, during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore. Facing scarcity of edible oils at the time, the company initially focused on producing coconut oil. By 1956, the firm shifted its primary focus to sesame oil, which eventually became its signature product category.

The Double Pagoda brand itself emerged later, during the 1980s. The second generation of the family business developed the brand as part of a strategy to modernise packaging and expand sales into overseas markets. Records from the Singapore Graphic Archives indicate that a distinct Double Pagoda identity was designed by Su Yeang Design for Chee Seng Oil Factory in 1987 1. This redesign was reportedly influenced by insights gained from an American wholesaler encountered at a Trade Development Board exhibition.

From a branding perspective, Double Pagoda represents a fusion of traditional Chinese cultural references with a modern Singaporean manufacturing and export narrative.

The name “Double Pagoda” refers to two historic pagodas located near Kai Yuan Temple in the founder’s hometown of Fu Qiao Gao Shan Village, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China.

These structures are traditionally identified as:

• Zheng Guo Pagoda — the eastern pagoda
• Ren Shou Pagoda — the western pagoda

These landmarks inspired both the brand name and its distinctive visual imagery featuring two pagodas. The naming convention connects the brand directly to the founder’s Fujian heritage and family history rather than serving solely as a marketing invention.

Double Pagoda operates as a brand within the Chee Seng Oil Factory business, rather than as an independent manufacturing entity. Chee Seng’s corporate lineage traces back to 1943, with sesame-oil production commencing in 1956. Over the years, the company has managed several brands, including Chee Seng, Double Pagoda and Golden Ox.

The distinction between the entities lies in their market positioning: Chee Seng represents the older manufacturer and brand heritage, while Double Pagoda was cultivated as a more contemporary product brand targeting newer consumers and broader international markets.

Historically, Double Pagoda has concentrated on sesame oil and flavoured or specialty oils. Products documented by Singapore’s Health Promotion Board include:

• Pure Sesame Oil
• Spicy Sesame Oil
• Chilli Oil
• Garlic Oil
• Ginger Oil
• Shallot Oil
• Szechuan Pepper Oil

The brand offers these items in various formats, ranging from small household bottles of 150 ml to larger volumes for pure sesame oil.

The current Singapore product range has expanded to include items such as Mala Sesame Oil, alongside the existing lineup of Pure Sesame Oil, Spicy Sesame Oil, Chilli Oil, Garlic Oil and Ginger Oil.

The core concept behind Double Pagoda is aroma and convenience. Instead of positioning its oils strictly as basic cooking ingredients, the brand has developed flavoured oils designed to quickly enhance the taste of everyday meals. The Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association notes that the specialty-oil range is intended for uses such as marinating, stir-frying and salad dressing.

This approach aligns with the needs of the brand’s original target audience: modern households that may cook less frequently but still desire distinctive Asian flavours in simple dishes.

Double Pagoda leverages the technical expertise of Chee Seng Oil Factory. The company describes its sesame oil as cold-pressed and unrefined, prioritising the retention of natural sesame characteristics and flavour.

To support growing demand, Chee Seng invested in modern production infrastructure, introducing a new filling and labelling line in 2019 to increase capacity 2. Consequently, the brand occupies a niche that blends traditional sesame-oil expertise with industrial manufacturing and modern convenience products.

A significant asset of the Double Pagoda brand is its cultural symbolism. The pagoda imagery conveys themes of:

• Chinese heritage
• Fujian ancestry
• Tradition
• Longevity
• Asian culinary culture
• Authenticity

Despite this traditional foundation, the brand underwent deliberate modernisation in the 1980s. The 1987 redesign by Su Yeang Design aimed to make the products more appealing for overseas markets. This results in an identity that differs from purely traditional Chinese condiment brands; Double Pagoda is essentially a Singapore-developed food brand drawing on Chinese heritage.

Double Pagoda maintains a strong presence in Singapore’s mainstream grocery sector. Current listings indicate availability through major supermarkets and online platforms. The brand’s Singapore distributor and development partner, TastyFood Sales & Marketing (TFSM), confirms distribution across supermarkets, convenience stores and e-commerce channels 2.

Additionally, Singapore’s Health Promotion Board has listed multiple Double Pagoda products in its Healthier Choice Symbol databases over the years, reflecting the brand’s established footprint in the local packaged-food market.

The wider Chee Seng business exports its products to more than 28 countries, according to the Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association.

Internationalisation has been integral to the Double Pagoda story since its inception. The packaging redevelopment in the 1980s was specifically driven by efforts to sell products overseas.

Today, Double Pagoda products are available through overseas Asian-food distributors. For instance, European Asian-food retailers list its sesame and flavoured oils as Singaporean products 3. This positions the brand uniquely in international Asian-food markets: it possesses Singaporean corporate heritage while maintaining strong Chinese/Fujian cultural symbolism and culinary associations.

Based on its current portfolio and marketing, Double Pagoda can be described broadly as an Asian specialty-oil brand rather than just a traditional sesame-oil manufacturer. Its product architecture has evolved from a straightforward sesame-oil proposition to include flavour-driven options such as:

Sesame → Spicy Sesame → Chilli → Garlic → Ginger → Shallot → Mala

This expansion allows the brand to address contemporary cooking trends while keeping sesame oil as its central identity.

The story of Double Pagoda combines Singaporean entrepreneurship, Fujian heritage and Asian food culture.

• Historical significance: Derived from its connection to Chee Seng, one of Singapore’s established sesame-oil manufacturers.
• Cultural significance: Rooted in the two pagodas of Fujian that inspired its name.
• Commercial significance: Demonstrated by the transformation of a traditional cooking ingredient into a portfolio of convenient flavoured oils for modern consumers.

Timeline

1943: Lim Tai Tin establishes the oil business in Singapore.
1956: The company shifts focus to sesame-oil production.
1980s: Double Pagoda brand is developed; packaging modernised for overseas markets.
1987: Su Yeang Design creates a documented Double Pagoda identity.
2010s: The brand expands its specialty-oil portfolio and updates packaging.
2019: Chee Seng introduces a new filling and labelling line to expand capacity.
Present: Double Pagoda is positioned around sesame oil, flavoured oils and modern Asian cooking.

1. Double Pagoda | Singapore Graphic Archives
2. Double Pagoda – Tasty Foods Singapore
3. Singaporean brand Double Pagoda :: Asian food online