Penang Local Products: 12 Best Things to Buy
Penang local products reflect the island's layered food culture — Hokkien, Nyonya, Malay and Indian influences have produced a range of specialities that are made here and difficult to replicate elsewhere. Tau sar piah, sesame oil, nutmeg balm, white coffee and belacan are the items most worth carrying home, and each has a specific shop or market where quality and price are best.
This guide covers 12 Penang local products and the specific shops where you should buy them, verified in October 2026. Every entry includes the address, opening hours, approximate prices in Malaysian Ringgit (RM) and practical tips for packing and transport. Whether you are shopping for yourself or buying gifts, these are the products that locals actually recommend.
Most of the shops listed here are within George Town or a short drive away. If you are short on time, Chowrasta Market and the Jalan Burma–Jalan Macalister corridor cover the majority of items on this list in a single morning.
Jump to a place (12)
- Him Heang (Tau Sar Piah)
- Ghee Hiang (Sesame Oil & Pastries)
- Ban Heang (Tambun Biscuits)
- Chowrasta Market
- Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory
- Coffee Tree (Penang White Coffee)
- Cheong Kim Chuan (Nutmeg Products)
- Koon Kee Coffee
- Belacan & Spices at Chowrasta
- Ban Heang Airport Outlet
- Jeruk Madu Pak Ali (Pickled Fruit)
- Ming Xiang Tai (Pastries)
At a glance
Him Heang (Tau Sar Piah)
Him Heang has been making tau sar piah — flaky pastry filled with mung bean paste — for over 70 years from their single outlet on Jalan Burma. Their round-shaped version is the Penang standard: thin, layered crust that shatters at the first bite, with a filling that balances sweetness and a slight savoury note. A box of 16 pieces costs around RM7 to RM8.
The shop closes at 4 pm and is shut on Sundays and public holidays, so plan your visit for a weekday morning. Popular batches sell out by early afternoon, especially before major holidays. They also make tambun biscuits (a different pastry with a crumbly texture). Cash is preferred. The shop has a single street-facing counter — no seating, no frills, just the pastries. This is the most recommended Penang local product for good reason.
Ghee Hiang (Sesame Oil & Pastries)
Ghee Hiang has been producing sesame oil in Penang since 1856, making it one of the oldest food brands on the island. Their cold-pressed sesame oil is the signature product — fragrant, dark-amber and used in Hokkien and Nyonya cooking across the region. A 300ml bottle starts around RM15. They also produce their own oval-shaped tau sar piah, which has a slightly different texture from Him Heang's version — less flaky, denser, with a stronger bean flavour.
The Jalan Macalister flagship is the largest outlet and has the widest selection. Additional branches operate on Burma Road (daily 9 am – 6 pm), Beach Street (Mon–Sat 9 am – 6 pm) and at Sunshine Central Mall in Air Itam. If you are buying sesame oil, the glass bottle packs better than plastic for checked luggage. Ghee Hiang products make reliable gifts because the brand is well-known throughout Malaysia.
Ban Heang (Tambun Biscuits & Pastries)
Ban Heang is the largest Penang pastry brand by retail footprint, with a George Town shop on Jalan Macalister, mall outlets such as Gurney Paragon and an outlet at Penang airport. The brand is halal-certified. Their range covers tambun biscuits, tau sar piah, pineapple tarts, salted egg cookies and various gift boxes. The showroom is set up for browsing and tasting, with samples often available at the counter.
Quality is consistent and the packaging is designed for travel — sealed boxes, individually wrapped items and gift sets ready to hand over. Prices are slightly higher than Him Heang or Ghee Hiang for comparable items, reflecting the retail experience and packaging. Ban Heang is the practical choice if you need to buy in bulk for multiple recipients. The Gurney Paragon outlet (lower ground floor) keeps mall hours, roughly 10 am – 10 pm, if you need to shop in the evening.
Chowrasta Market
Chowrasta Market is a traditional wet market in the centre of George Town, and together with the dried-goods shops along its Jalan Penang frontage it is the best single location for buying Penang local products at local prices. Stalls sell preserved nutmeg fruit, nutmeg candy, belacan, dried spices, tambun biscuits, preserved fruits and various snacks. Many vendors offer free samples, so you can taste before committing.
The ground floor is a standard wet market selling fresh produce, meats and seafood — not aimed at tourists. The nutmeg and pickled-fruit shops face Jalan Penang, while the upper floor holds dry goods, spices and second-hand bookstalls. Arrive before noon for the best selection; stalls begin packing up by early afternoon. Cash is essential here — most vendors do not accept cards. Bring your own bag. Prices are generally lower than the branded shops, though packaging is basic. This is where Penang residents buy their own dried goods and snacks.
Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory
Penang was once a major nutmeg-producing region, and Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory keeps that tradition alive. Located on the Teluk Bahang–Balik Pulau road through the hills, the family-run factory processes nutmeg fruit into oil, balm, candy, jam, cordial and preserved fruit. You can watch parts of the production process and buy directly from their retail counter at factory prices.
Nutmeg oil (from RM10 for a small bottle) is used as a traditional remedy for headaches, joint pain and nausea. Nutmeg balm is a practical, travel-sized souvenir. The preserved nutmeg fruit — sweet, slightly medicinal, chewy — is an acquired taste but distinctly Penang. The factory is about 40 minutes by car from George Town via Teluk Bahang or Air Itam; call ahead (016-433 6303) if you want the owner to walk you through the process; combine a visit with a trip to Balik Pulau for durian (in season) or laksa.
Coffee Tree (Penang White Coffee)
Penang white coffee is a style of coffee where the beans are roasted with margarine and sugar, then ground and brewed. The result is lighter in colour and smoother than traditional kopi-o. Coffee Tree is one of the best-known Penang white coffee brands, and their specialty store on Jalan Bagan Jermal stocks over 30 flavours in instant sachet form, from original to hazelnut to durian.
The store offers tasting samples so you can try before buying. A box of 15 sachets starts from about RM15. Coffee Tree products are also available in supermarkets across Penang at lower prices, but the specialty store has the full range including limited editions. Sachets are lightweight, pack flat and have a long shelf life — making white coffee one of the most practical Penang local products to take home.
Cheong Kim Chuan (Nutmeg Products)
If the drive to Ghee Hup's factory is not on your itinerary, Cheong Kim Chuan on Lorong Selamat is the best in-town alternative for nutmeg products. The main branch stocks nutmeg oil, nutmeg balm, preserved nutmeg fruit, nutmeg candy and cordial — the full range — at reasonable prices. Additional branches operate near Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam.
Lorong Selamat is also famous for its char koay teow stall, so combining a nutmeg shopping stop with lunch is a natural pairing. The shop is small and unassuming; look for the signboard with nutmeg imagery. Prices are comparable to Ghee Hup's factory. Staff can advise on the differences between the products and suggest what to buy based on your intended use — cooking, traditional remedy or snacking.
Koon Kee Coffee
Koon Kee is a traditional Penang coffee manufacturer with over 70 years of history, producing the kind of coffee powder used in the island's old-school kopitiam (coffee shops). Their blends are darker and more robust than white coffee — roasted with sugar and margarine in the traditional Hainanese style. A 500g bag of ground coffee starts around RM12.
Koon Kee coffee is available at selected supermarkets and grocery stores in George Town, as well as through their own distribution channels. This is the product to buy if you want to recreate an authentic Penang kopitiam coffee at home using a cloth filter or sock drip method. It pairs well with condensed milk for a proper kopi. Less well-known to tourists than Coffee Tree, but more respected among local coffee drinkers.
Belacan & Spices at Chowrasta Market
Belacan is fermented shrimp paste — dense, pungent and essential to Malay and Nyonya cooking. The blocks sold at Chowrasta Market's upper floor are locally produced and cost from RM5 for a small portion. It keeps well at room temperature and travels easily if sealed in a zip-lock bag or wrapped tightly. The same stalls sell dried chillies, curry powders, turmeric, coriander and other spice blends used in Penang cuisine.
If you want to cook Penang dishes at home — nasi lemak, curry mee, assam laksa — belacan and the right spice blends are the ingredients that make the biggest difference. Ask the vendors for recommendations based on what you want to cook. Prices are lower than pre-packaged versions sold in tourist shops. Buy early in the morning for the best range of stock.
Ban Heang Airport Outlet
If you forgot to buy Penang local products during your trip or need a last-minute gift box, Ban Heang's airport outlet is a reliable fallback. Located in the Domestic Departure Hall, it stocks the brand's full range of tambun biscuits, tau sar piah, pineapple tarts and gift sets. The outlet opens at 6 am, so even early morning flights are covered.
Prices are the same as their city outlets — not inflated for the airport location. The selection is smaller than the Jalan Penang or Jalan Macalister branches, but the core products are available. This is also a practical stop if you are picking someone up from the airport and want to bring them something on the way home. Packaging is travel-ready and fits into cabin luggage.
Jeruk Madu Pak Ali (Pickled Fruit)
Jeruk Madu Pak Ali is a Penang-born pickled fruit brand with its factory in Simpang Ampat and around 17 retail outlets in Penang state. The George Town shop on Jalan Penang, next to Chowrasta Market, sells honey-pickled mango, papaya, nutmeg, guava, snakefruit, amra and sweet turnip from open tubs and sealed packs, plus chilli dip sauces and herbal balms. Staff usually let you taste before you buy.
Small packs start from around RM5, and sealed tubs are the better choice for flights because the syrup can leak from loose bags. The shop gets busy at weekends and during school holidays, with queues at the till. There is also an outlet on Jalan Batu Ferringhi, open into the late evening, if you are staying on the beach strip. Pickled fruit, especially nutmeg, is one of the most typical Penang local products and costs less here than at the airport.
Ming Xiang Tai (Pastries)
Ming Xiang Tai began in 1979 selling egg tarts from a trishaw in Kampar and now runs several pastry shops around Penang, including Jalan Burma, Jalan Penang, Lebuh Armenian Ghaut, Bayan Baru and Gurney Plaza. The Jalan Burma original is the one to visit: it bakes egg tarts through the day and sells boxed tau sar piah and other Penang biscuits that travel well as gifts.
Single pastries cost a few ringgit, and gift boxes of biscuits are priced in line with the other pastry brands on this list. It is on the same road as Him Heang, so you can compare the two styles of tau sar piah in one trip. Egg tarts are best eaten the same day; buy the boxed biscuits for taking home.
How to Plan Your Penang Local Products Shopping
You can cover most items on this list in a single morning by following this route through George Town.
Morning Market Run (6 Am – 12 Pm)
Start early at Chowrasta Market for belacan, spices, preserved nutmeg and dried snacks. Pick up pickled fruit at Jeruk Madu Pak Ali on the Jalan Penang side of the market. From there, head to Him Heang on Jalan Burma (arrive before noon to avoid sell-outs) and then cross to Ghee Hiang and Ban Heang, both on Jalan Macalister, for sesame oil, their versions of tau sar piah and packaged gift boxes.
Afternoon Add-ons
If you have a car or Grab, visit Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory on the road to Balik Pulau in the afternoon. Stop at Coffee Tree on Jalan Bagan Jermal on the way back for white coffee sachets. Alternatively, pick up Cheong Kim Chuan nutmeg products on Lorong Selamat and combine it with lunch at the famous char koay teow stall nearby.
Penang Local Products: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Penang local products to buy?
The top Penang local products are tau sar piah (mung bean pastry) from Him Heang or Ghee Hiang, sesame oil from Ghee Hiang, nutmeg products from Ghee Hup or Cheong Kim Chuan, Penang white coffee from Coffee Tree or Koon Kee, belacan (shrimp paste), and preserved nutmeg fruit from Chowrasta Market. These items are locally produced, travel well and are difficult to find at the same quality outside Penang.
Where is the best place to buy tau sar piah in Penang?
Him Heang at 162A Jalan Burma is widely considered the best for tau sar piah. Their round-style pastry has a flaky crust and well-balanced mung bean filling. The shop has been operating for over 70 years and sells fresh-baked batches daily. Ghee Hiang on Jalan Macalister is the other major name, offering an oval-shaped version alongside their famous sesame oil.
Can I bring Penang food products through airport customs?
Dry, packaged items like tau sar piah, white coffee sachets, nutmeg candy and spice packets generally clear customs in most countries. Belacan (shrimp paste) should be sealed tightly to contain the smell. Fresh fruits and unprocessed meats are restricted by most countries. Ban Heang has an outlet at Penang International Airport for last-minute purchases. Check your destination country's customs rules before packing.
What is Penang nutmeg and where to buy it?
Penang was historically a major nutmeg-producing region, and local products include nutmeg oil, nutmeg balm, preserved nutmeg fruit, nutmeg candy and nutmeg cordial. Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory on Jalan Teluk Bahang in Balik Pulau sells the full range direct from their processing facility. In George Town, Cheong Kim Chuan at 99-B Lorong Selamat stocks nutmeg products, and Chowrasta Market's upper floor has multiple stalls selling preserved nutmeg.
How long do Penang tau sar piah last?
Fresh tau sar piah from Him Heang and Ghee Hiang typically last about two weeks at room temperature and longer if refrigerated. The pastries are best eaten within the first few days when the crust is still flaky. Both shops package them in sealed boxes suitable for travel. If you are buying for a flight home, purchasing on your last day in Penang keeps them freshest.