Explore a different destination UNESCO World Heritage Site Ghee Hiang, George Town

      Earth About Me      Bookmark and Share  Follow me on Twitter



Ghee Hiang is a famous manufacturer of Tau Sar Pneah (green bean pastry) and sesame seed oil. They have been making traditional biscuits for the past 150 years using recipes that originated in Fujian Province, China. For generations, the sesame seed oil from Ghee Hiang is the choice of mothers in confinement, as it is believed that the "warmth" or "chi" of the oil helps mothers regain their energy.

Among the pastries produced by Ghee Hiang, in addition to the Tau Sar Pneah, include the Hneoh Pneah, Beh Teh Saw and Phong Pneah. The Tau Sar Pneah are pastries with greenbean filling and fluffy skin. There are two types of Tau Sar Pneah: the small ones with golden skin, topped with a sprinkling of sesame seeds and sold in boxes, and the large ones often wrapped four to a strip. Hneoh Pneah is wheat pastries with brown sugar filling. Its size is about similar to the small Tau Sar Pneah. Beh Teh Saw as pastries with gooey melted molasses called bah leh ko and flaky skin made by kneading the dough in many layers. The Beh Teh Saw is about the size of a large Tau Sar Pneah but slightly flatter. Finally, there's the Phong Pneah. Largest of the lot, the Phong Pneah are off-white pastries with melted white sugar filling.

Despite the intrusion of modern cookies into the market, the traditional pastries by Ghee Hiang is still popular among the people of Penang, and make a wonderful souvenir for visitors.

Getting to Ghee Hiang

Ghee Hiang has several offices in Penang, and the oldest branch is located along Beach Street (Beach Street) near the junction with Lebuh Chulia (Chulia Street). From the Weld Quay Bus Terminal, cross the pedestrian bridge and turn left, walk along Pengkalan Weld until the junction with Lebuh Chulia. Turn right. Walk along Lebuh Chulia, pass the junction with Lebuh Victoria. The next junction is that with Lebuh Pantai. Turn right. Ghee Hiang is a short distance from the junction, to the right.

Nearby Sights

  • Yeoh Kongsi: Location at the junction of Lebuh Chulia and Lebuh Victoria. You pass it on the way to Ghee Hiang from Weld Quay Bus Terminal
  • Nagore Shrine: From Ghee Hiang, return to the Lebuh Chulia junction, turn right. Pass junction of Lebuh Penang. Nagore Shrine is at junction of Lebuh King.

    • Click for list of Penang Heritage Sites





    Ghee Hiang Beh Teh Saw (5 July 2008)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


    Green beans are kneaded at the Ghee Hiang factory (5 July 2008)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


    Machine to process the green bean (5 July 2008)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo

    Ghee Hiang Location Map



    More Photos of Ghee Hiang


    Worker inserting the filling (5 July 2008)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


    Preparing the pastries (5 July 2008)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


    Rotary oven at work (5 July 2008)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


    Packing the Ghee Hiang biscuits (5 July 2008)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


    Tim with the oldest worker at Ghee Hiang (5 July 2008)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo


    Participants at the Penang Heritage Trust Sitevisit to Ghee Hiang (5 July 2008)
    © Timothy Tye using this photo

    Compare prices of Hotel Room Rates in Penang

    Use this search engine to find the lowest price of hotel rooms from different Hotel Booking websites. You'd be glad to do your homework!


    Local Tours in Penang

    It is often more practical to book your tours online. You have the luxury of time to go through what are the tours you intend to take, rather than having to make a decision on your feet. Check out the local tours in Penang that you can book online. The tours are provided by Viator, a reputable international tour company.

    Arrange Airport Transfer

    If you are coming to Penang, you can arrange airport transfer from airport to city in advance. A van will be waiting for you to pick you at the airport. This service is very useful and cost effective if you are arriving as a group.



    Follow me on Twitter

    Sign up to Tim's Travel Tips, and let me take you to explore the places in Penang, Malaysia and Asia.

    Please link to me!

    If you enjoy exploring Penang and getting to know its places of interest, place a link from your website or blog to Penang Travel Tips. Let Penang Travel Tips be your window to everything Penang! It is as easy as copying the source code below and pasting it on your site:

    Return to Penang Travel Tips homepage

    What's up at my other websites: Asia Explorers, World Greatest Sites, Flowering Garden, and Earth Documentary




    Tim's Travel Tips and globe logo are trademark and service mark of Timothy Tye. Copyright © 2008-2010 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.
    Penang Travel Tips is researched and written by Timothy Tye, universally known as Tim. The text is the copyright of Timothy Tye, and may not be copied for commercial use or re-published in another website without the author's permission. Information provided is in goodwill and is believed to be correct and up-to-date at time of writing. Photographs on this website are the copyright of the author and may not be reused without prior permission. For commercial licensing of photographs, read the licensing terms. Tim is a Christian. Click here to know more about his beliefs.