It is the traditional practice here that when you go and visit somebody, you will bring something to give to him or her. In Malay, they call it “buah tangan” and when you leave, he or she will also give you something as it is considered ill-mannered to let you go home empty-handed.
My friends in Penang would probably give me those packets of pickled buah pala (nutmeg) which I do not eat at all. My missus loves it though…so I would usually take it home and let her enjoy the whole lot herself or with her friends at work. But a popular gift from those up north in the peninsula would be those tambun biscuits. I cannot remember the brand but most of the time, they would be the ones that come in a squarish box.
Well, the other day, my missus went to KL to attend a course and she came home with these that came in a rectangular box…
When I checked, it was actually a product of the Bisgood Company…
I love their Heong Peah best…but when I studied the details carefully, I found that the company only handles the marketing. All their products are manufactured by a certain Ta Sin Guan Tin Food Industries in Teluk Intan, Perak.
The tambun biscuits are packed and sealed in individual plastic packs of 4 each…
…so I guess that would ensure longer freshness no matter how long you keep them.
I found that they were nicer than the more popular ones that I used to get and would see just about everywhere in Penang…
…but at the end of the day, I think I still prefer heong peah. What about you?
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 