Penang Tau Sar Peah
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| Penang tau sar peah is legendary and spoken of in the same breath as Kuala Kangsar's pau (dumpling) and Kampar's chicken biscuits. Indeed, conversations about Penang food inevitably turns to the celebrated Penang tau sar peah. For Penangites who work outside the state (and even those who live overseas) and |
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| return for periodic sojourns to their beloved hometown, the tau sar peah is invariably among the items that line their bags when they depart. Traditionally, the tau sar actually refers to the red bean paste found in the cookies. The red beans are cooked with sugar until they become mushy and turn a shade of very dark magenta. But given the several varieties of peah (biscuit/cookie) on the market, the term tau sar is also confusingly used to describe the whitish green pea paste, or pek tau sar. Then there's the mung bean variety, or lek tau and also lotus bean paste. |
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| The making of Penang Tau Sar Peah |
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| In Penang, tau sar peah is synonymous with Tambun peah as both are made from the same core ingredients, but differ slightly in shape. Either way, you are assured of cookies that are delightfully mouth-watering and delicious. When buying tau sar peah, try and get a batch that's fresh out of the oven. Although the cookies retain their freshness for several days without refrigeration, it is when they are still warm that eating them becomes an incomparable experience. Although purists will tell you that the best tau sar peah is made with lard, there are equally tasty varieties made with vegetable oil. There is even a halal (permitted by Islam) variety for Muslims and a vegetable-based one for vegetarians. The best way to get fresh tau sar peah is to pre-order, sometimes even days before your arrival in Penang. Tau sar peah is available in Penang from: • Ghee Hiang, 95 Jalan Pantai, Tel: 04-262 0635 • Him Heang, 162A Jalan Burma, Tel: 04-228 6129 • Hoe Peng, 434 Jalan Pinang, Tel 04-226 2375 • Lee Hoay Seng, 1G Jalan Macalister, Tel: 04-226 4458 • Loong Num, 322 Jalan Pinang, Tel: 04-261 5569 • Sin Hock Seng, 316 Jalan Pinang, Tel: 04-263 2667 • Xiang Phing Bakery, 4 Jalan Concord 10, Tanjung Bungah, Tel: 04-890 2128 |
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| Written by William Chow & Raja Abdul Razak, photographed by Adrian Cheah Courtesy of www.penang tourism.com.my © All rights reserved |
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