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Haw Par Corporation

The Tiger Balm maker and the history of a century-old Asian healing brand

Transformed — Tiger Balm, created by the Aw brothers in the 1920s, is now one of the most recognised Asian healing brands - sold in over 100 countries by Haw Par Corporation.

Tiger Balm was created in the 1920s by the Aw brothers - Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par - Chinese herbalists who emigrated to Southeast Asia and developed a medicinal ointment from camphor, menthol and other oils. The brothers built a pharmaceutical and healthcare empire around it, and the brand's distinctive yellow-and-red jar with a leaping tiger became an emblem of Asian medicine.

The founder, Aw Boon Haw, was also a remarkable entrepreneur. He invested in newspapers, building the Sin Poh Ampang press, and created the now-famous Haw Par Villa in Singapore - a sprawling gardens and diorama park that became one of the city's cultural landmarks. The Tiger Balm name carried his family's wealth and reach across Asia.

Today Tiger Balm remains a popular topical remedy for muscle aches and minor pains, sold by Haw Par Corporation, which has diversified beyond the ointment into its own branded products. The tiger still leaps on the jar, and the brand still carries the Aw brothers' century-old reputation for effective, affordable healing.

Quick facts

Founded
1920s, by the Aw brothers
Founders
Aw Boon Haw & Aw Boon Par
Key product
Tiger Balm ointment
Landmark
Haw Par Villa, Singapore
Today
Sold in 100+ countries by Haw Par Corporation

Sources

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