Coffee, Butter and a Great Deal of Smoke
Malaysia’s traditional kopi owes its dark, powerful character not only to robusta and liberica beans, but also to an unusual roasting method involving sugar,...
The Last Songkok Maker in Penang
For generations, the songkok has been part of everyday and ceremonial life for Muslim men in Malaysia. Yet the people who make these distinctive...
Letters Carved to Last
For generations, hand-carved wooden signboards identified Penang’s Chinese homes, shops and temples, carrying family origins, business names and wishes for prosperity. The boards can...
One Bead at a Time
A pair of handmade Nyonya shoes can take three months to complete, with tiny glass beads stitched into elaborate patterns one by one. Once...
Keeper of Penang’s Rattan-Weaving Tradition
Before plastic furniture took over Malaysian homes, rattan filled verandas and coffee shops with chairs, tables and baskets built for the tropical climate. In...
The Last Handmade Joss Stick Maker in Penang
For more than seventy years, Lee Beng Chuan made joss sticks by hand in the heart of George Town, mixing fragrant sandalwood paste, rolling...
Slap, Twist, Lift: Handmade Popiah Skins in Penang
At Penang’s Chowrasta Market, Gary Lim turns a lump of elastic dough into paper-thin popiah skins with a practised slap, twist and lift. Each...
Behind the Satin Curtains
Behind the satin curtains of a temporary stage in George Town, a Teochew opera troupe prepares elaborate make-up and costumes before performing for the...
Dumpling syndrome
Vivid blue or unapologetically brown, pyramid-shaped and wrapped in bamboo leaves, these traditional dumplings, Nyonya Chang and Bak Chang, are part of Melaka’s distinctive...