BAK KUT TEH (TEA) ( NON HALA FOOD)

Hi! folks,

The weather of this morning is cold and wet, it triggers me to have Bak Kut Teh to keep me warm,however, I enjoy this delicious food. Bak Kut Teh, which is basically pork cooked in herbal soup has Klang as its birthplace. It began with cooking meat in herbal soup so as to give strength to the hard working labourers who worked at the port. Later on it evolved into so many varieties, thicker, thin soup and dry type as well.  

Now, it is so famous that you can find Bak Kut Teh stalls in most parts of Malaysia and Singapore, with their signboard of “Klang Bak Kut Teh” to attract customers.

Kedai Makanan Seng Huat, popularly known as the Restaurant “Under the Bridge”, is located along the same row of shophouses next to the Port Klang KTM station. The other landmark you can look for would be the Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Klang. 

One obvious thing you will notice, when you walk into this restaurant, is that many kettles are placed strategically around the tables. These kettles are used to boil water for customers to brew their Chinese tea, which customer bring along or select from the basketful of tea leaves in bags by its waiters.

Then you will be given a number of small Chinese tea cups, depending on the number of your group, with one equally small tea pot for you to brew your tea. Here, can someone tell me why tea is chosen as companion of Bak Kut herbal soup?

There are variety of pork, from different parts of pig's body, you can choose from: fatty, lean, half-fat / half-lean, ribs, leg, spare parts such as intestines, stomach. You may eat with either white plain rice or mixed rice with fried shallots for a fragrant taste.

The soup is flavourful, with a reasonably strong hint of herbs though not overwhelming and the meat is really tender, which sort of melts in the mouth as a result of long hours of cooking. To add more excitement, you may add Yau Char Kuey (deep fried rolls). If you prefer it to be slightly crispier, then I suggest that you don't expose it in the herbal soup for too long. Nothing beats eating Yau Char Kuey shortly after it is fried.

The shop is open everyday from 7.00am till about 1.00pm and reopen from 5.00pm till about 11.00pm.

Here, I like to stress that tea is so highly appreciated everywhere and even the herbal soup best goes with Chinese tea, as its name suggested. Tea again is regarded as a good companion, as good contributor, in the Chinese community as it sets good example to its people.  

So, next time if you go to Klang, make sure you try this. Otherwise, your trip will not be complete without it. 

James Oh

Skype me at james.oh18