<\/span><\/h2>\nPenang is famous for many things, but the reason we wanted to go there was simple: the Penang Food<\/span> was supposedly amazing.<\/p>\nWhen we heard this we were sold, and left Thailand to indulge in Indian curries for one fifth of the price in Penang.<\/p>\n
What makes Penang a food heaven are the many varieties of cuisine; Arabic food stalls, thai restaurants, Indian, Malay, Nyonya, Chinese, Lebanese… the list goes on.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Our favorite of the famous Malaysia sweets<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/span>Nyonya Kuih in Palm Sugar Sauce<\/span><\/h2>\nNyonya Kuih in Palm Sugar Sauce<\/p>\n
Made of glutinous rice this steamed sweet is actually pretty tasty.<\/p>\n
The palm sugar coconut sauce tasted a bit like licorice, and the nyonya kuih was also pretty nice, if you’re used to jelly sweets.<\/p>\n
It’s made out of pea flour and Pandan juice.<\/p>\n
There are many different varieties of the Kuih, but ours was pretty simple with one layer only.<\/p>\n
The Nyonya kuihs are very popular in Penang.<\/p>\n
Nyonya is a traditional Penang food, and refer to the Chinese migrants who came to Penang and other parts of Malaysia in the 18th century.<\/p>\n
The food is a mixture between Malay and Chinese cuisine, and is called Nyonya food.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Cendol<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nGreen noodles in coconut milk, brown sugar and shaved ice.<\/p>\n
Yes, you read it correctly, those are the actual ingredients.<\/p>\n
It sounds crazy, but it’s one of the most common desserts in Malaysia and has been part of the Penang food tradition for decades.<\/p>\n
Some have been selling Cendol since the 1920’s, and although it’s weird, it’s worth a try just to know what this combination would taste like!<\/p>\n
<\/span>Fried Ais Krim Goreng<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nFried Ais Krim Goreng<\/p>\n
The ultimate recipe for weight gain (although they’re small in size), but oh so delicious!<\/p>\n
Some people might not like the warm oily deep fried crust covering cold and creamy cookies and cream ice cream inside – but I LOVED it.<\/p>\n
The Fried Ais Krim Goreng is a Malaysian favorite treat, and you’ll see it everywhere on the Penang food menus.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Ais Kachang<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nAis Kachang<\/p>\n
The famous national Malaysian favorite dessert, Ais Kacang – is just so weird that you have to try it.<\/p>\n
Beans, corn, fruit, nata de coco, grass jelly, cubes of agar agar, and ice cream on top.<\/p>\n
Yeah, it really tastes as weird as it sounds!<\/p>\n
If the Penang food isn’t surprising enough for your taste buds, I can guarantee you that this dessert will be.<\/p>\n
This is even weirder than Cendol – this is the weirdest dessert I’ve ever had.<\/p>\n
Red beans, ice cream, lychee fruit, corn, shaven ice and grass jelly?<\/p>\n
All mixed up, and it tastes….interesting…<\/p>\n
Parts of the dish are sweet and blend together really well, like the fresh fruit, ice cream and jelly.<\/p>\n
But then you get these bites of bean, corn and water (the ice melts really quickly), which doesn’t blend very well with he flavors.<\/p>\n
The Ais Kachang used to only consist of shaved ice and red beans, so the additional flavors.<\/p>\n
If a little strange, definitely make this type of Penang food taste better.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Indian Sweets<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nKaranji<\/p>\n
When in Georgetown, you have to try the Indian sweets!<\/p>\n
The Indian servings are pretty big (some gigantic, so look out!).<\/p>\n
So you probably won’t feel like dessert when walking out of the restaurant – but buy it for later, because you will <\/em>want to try and see what those bright colored things really taste like.<\/p>\nDon’t expect anything sweet like the western candy, this is totally different.<\/p>\n
Karanji is a common sweet, but there are often whole stalls selling Indian sweets only, in all kinds of colors and shapes.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Steamed and Fried Kuih<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nFried Kuih is a local delicacy in Malaysia, a mixture between Chinese and Malay style cuisine.<\/p>\n
They come in all shapes and colors.<\/p>\n
The Kuih is a rather strange part of the traditional Penang food, as it almost looks inedible.<\/p>\n
It actually tastes pretty good, and is not as sweet as it looks.<\/p>\n
Many Malays have a plate of Kuih only for lunch, and since they’re pretty filling, that is enough food to last you a few hours.<\/p>\n
Steamed and Fried Kuih<\/p>\n
<\/span>Ride A Trishaw In Melaka<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nTrishaw In Melaka<\/p>\n
If you think you’ve seen it all, you must check out the colorful trishaws.<\/p>\n
These bike taxis outshine all other forms transports from around the world!<\/p>\n
For the taxi-bike drivers it is fierce competition to have the coolest bike, decorating it with all junk you could ever find, and the more glitter and lights the better.<\/p>\n
To top it, these guys take you around the city with techno music pumping out of their speakers at the highest volume.<\/p>\n
<\/span>The Crazy Multi-Culture Connection
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nPeople from all religions live together here, in a country with several cultural heritages, and it’s all just a mixture of everything;<\/p>\n
Dutch clogs, belly dancing, karaoke contests – and temple dance classes.<\/p>\n
Everywhere we went in Malaysia they were having dance classes.<\/p>\n
Men and women, young and old, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu, all practicing dance moves together.<\/p>\n
This in all sorts of places, all from 90’s pop music in a public garage to “Pussy Cat Dolls” in a temple.<\/p>\n