Discover a wide selection of unique and mouth-watering Malaysian souvenirs, from sweet treats to meaningful traditional crafts.
Malaysia, with its rich and diverse culture and stunning natural beauty, also offers a number of unique souvenirs that can be used as souvenirs or gifts for loved ones.
From delicious food to beautiful handicrafts, each product offers a local flavor and uniqueness that is hard to find anywhere else.
If you are planning a trip to Malaysia, be sure to bring home some unique souvenirs that reflect the rich culture of this country. Here is a list of the 10 best Malaysian Souvenirs that you must bring home.
1. Sarawak Layer Cake
Layer cake may be familiar to many Indonesians, but Sarawak Layer Cake has characteristics that make it different. This cake is one of the culinary icons of Sarawak, Malaysia.
Although similar to lapis legit, Sarawak Layer Cake has more intricate and brightly colored layers, making it more visually appealing.
Making this cake requires great precision and patience, making it not just food, but also art. When visiting Malaysia, make sure you don’t miss the chance to taste this cake and bring it home as a souvenir for family and friends.
2. Tau Sar Piah
Tau Sar Piah is a traditional cake famous in Malaysia and a must-buy souvenir for tourists. This cake is made of crispy skin with a sweet and savory green bean paste filling. The name “tau sar ” refers to the bean paste used as the main filling.
The crispy outer texture combined with the soft and slightly sweet taste of green beans, makes it a very popular snack. You can bring it home as a souvenir, or enjoy it while on vacation in Malaysia.
3. Malaysian Chocolate
Although chocolate can be found almost all over the world, Malaysian chocolate has a distinct taste and characteristics due to the different cocoa beans used and the way it is processed.
One of the most famous chocolate brands in Malaysia is Beryl’s, which offers a variety of chocolate variants, from white chocolate to dark chocolate.
Chocolate from Malaysia is known for its richer flavor and smooth texture, making it a perfect choice for souvenirs. In addition to chocolate bars, you can also find other chocolate products such as pralines or chocolate with a tempting mixture of nuts.
4. Kapit Cake
Kuih Kapit is a traditional cake often served during celebrations and festivals in Malaysia. With a thin and crispy triangular shape, this cake is very similar to the popular semprong cake in Indonesia.
Made from a mixture of eggs, coconut milk, flour and sugar, kuih kapit is baked until crispy. Usually, this cake is filled with green bean paste or brown sugar which gives it a delicious sweet taste.
Kuih Kapit is widely sold in traditional markets and souvenir shops in Malaysia, and is often used as a snack during holidays.
5. Milo Cube
Who doesn’t know Milo? This popular instant chocolate drink has an interesting variation in Malaysia, namely Milo Cube. This snack is in the form of Milo chocolate cubes that can be eaten directly or used to make hot or cold chocolate drinks.
With a darker and slightly bitter chocolate flavor, Milo Cube has become a favorite snack for many people in Malaysia. Even though it is quite well-known in Indonesia, Milo Cube remains a souvenir that is much sought after by tourists visiting Malaysia.
6. Malaysian Dodol
Dodol is a traditional cake that is also popular in Malaysia. Made from glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, and palm sugar, dodol has a chewy texture and a distinctive sweet taste.
In Malaysia, this dodol has a slightly different taste when compared to the Indonesian version, but still offers the same deliciousness.
Usually dodol in Malaysia is wrapped in banana leaves, which gives this cake a distinctive aroma. Dodol is a perfect choice for souvenirs for sweet food lovers, and can be purchased at traditional markets or souvenir shops.
7. Pua Kumbu
Unlike most souvenirs that focus on food, Pua Kumbu is a traditional cloth that is very typical of Malaysia, especially from the Dayak tribe in Sarawak.
These woven fabrics are decorated with intricate patterns and bright colors that have deep cultural meaning. Pua Kumbu is often used in traditional ceremonies and is seen as a symbol of strength and courage.
Although relatively expensive, this fabric is very suitable as a valuable and meaningful souvenir, especially for those of you who want to bring home a little bit of Malaysian art and culture.
8. Roti Jala
Roti Jala is a traditional Malay food often served for breakfast or dinner in Malaysia. Made from flour, eggs, coconut milk, and a pinch of salt, this bread is cooked in a unique way, resulting in thin, crispy jala-jala.
Roti Jala is usually eaten with chicken curry or a rich peanut sauce. To bring home a delicious and practical souvenir, you can buy roti jala in dried or ready-to-serve form. Its savory and slightly spicy taste makes it a very popular choice.
9. Karipap
Karipap is a Malaysian specialty that is very similar to pastel, but with a thicker, layered crust thanks to the use of puff pastry. The filling can vary, but the most common is a mixture of potatoes and chicken curry.
Karipap has a crispy skin texture and a savory filling, making it a much-loved snack. This food is usually used as a souvenir for those who are looking for savory snacks from Malaysia.
Karipap can be found easily in traditional markets, souvenir shops, or even at street stalls.
10. Rich Spread
Kaya Spread is a traditional Malaysian spread made from a mixture of coconut milk, eggs, sugar and pandan leaves. This jam has a soft and creamy texture that is suitable for spreading on bread.
Kaya toast, bread spread with Kaya Spread and toasted, is a very popular breakfast dish in Malaysia.
Bringing home Kaya Spread is a great way to bring a little traditional Malaysian flavor into your home. This spread can also be used in a variety of other sweet dishes, providing a rich and delicious flavor.
Malaysia offers a variety of typical souvenirs that are unique, appetizing and full of culture. From sweet to savory foods, as well as beautiful handicrafts, each product has its own story and beauty.
Whether you’re interested in Typical Malaysian Food specialties like Sarawak Lapis Cake and Milo Cube, or want to take home the culturally rich Pua Kumbu, Malaysia provides the perfect souvenir option for everyone.
Don’t forget to bring some of these 10 typical Malaysian souvenirs to remember or as gifts for those closest to you!