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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

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