Thirst Quincher Or Is It Dessert? But It Is Surely...

Salam and Greeting.

It has been a while that we have not update this blog. Well, we have been in some frustrating situation and being a bit busy in reviving ourself in promoting Taiping to all who have interest. And with a new spirit and encouragement from our blog visitors, and friends we are back and hopefully we could provide more information for our beloved town Taiping.

Let us start with a story of a cool, delicious, mouth-watering thirst quincher or dessert that is famously known in Taiping.

Although known as the wettest town in Peninsular Malaysia, there are days when the sun really shines on Taiping grounds.When these days come, people will flock to some of the stalls that are located along the Barrack Road looking for a quick 'remedy' for their thirst. These stalls can sometimes be a bit crowded when it is really hot here in Taiping.

Well, this 'remedy' is not a magical portion what so ever, but it is the Cendol. One of the popular stall that sells Cendol would be the Bismillah Cendol stall, located just behind the St. George's Secondary School at the Barrack Road. As far as we can remember, the stall has been in operation for quite a long time. It was originally located next to Bismillah Restaurant, thus that's why the stall is named Bismillah Cendol.




The main incredient, the Cendol is green noodle-like pasture that are made from flour mixed with pandan leaves substance. It is locally produced here in Taiping. This Cendol will be cooked with santan (coconut's milk) to become rich tasty mixture. When orders are being made, the Cendol man will first shaved some ice blocks into snow-like texture and put it into a bowl. He will then pour in the Cendol mixture, add in some gula melaka (palm sugar syrup), additional pulut (glutinous rice) and kacang merah (red beans).. and the cendol is served.





And as the title says, with these mixture of rich tasty incredient, its a thirst quincher or is it a dessert? While you decide, we are off to this stall to quinch... oopps... have this dessert...

Whatever it is... it is definitely Cendol.

Taiping's Kopi 'O'... The Aun Tong Story...

Salam and Greeting.

Kopi 'O' or Black Coffee can be assumed as one of the favorite beverage in Malaysia. Although the main ingredients are the coffee beans, but the mixture is not the same as those branded brewed kind that are sold in high end cafe and the modern kopitiam shop. Furthermore, its dark black color does make it different if compared to the one sold in Starbucks or Coffee Beans.


Well, let us share with you the story of the Taiping Kopi 'O'. Some may know it but we bet many won't. It has got our attention because its factory has been identified as one of the earliest coffee factory in the country, and still surviving till this day.


The coffee is locally known as Aun Tong Coffee. It was started in 1933 by the late Mr. Tiah and a Malay man by the name Ahmad. Mr. Tiah has initially opened a coffee shop. His coffee was homemade and became a favorite back then.





And out of his expectation, lot of his customer prefers to come to his coffee shop to buy only his coffee mixture.




Thus, he has decided to open a coffee factory in Assam Kumbang. With the help of Ahmad creativity, they have designed the factory conveyor line by using only one unit of electric motor.
And miraclely, the motor used from the first day is still available and workable until today.



Mr. Tiah had created the original kopi 'o' recipe by using local coffee beans from Banting, Selangor. It is mixed with some sugar and few more secret ingredients. Thus, making it perfect Kopi 'O' mixture.


The coffee factory has been passed by Mr. Tiah to his son and now being managed by his grand son, Mr. Tian.



Nowadays, the coffee beans used are still from Banting with a mixture of other types of beans coming from Brazil and Indonesia. And still, what make it special are the same secret ingredients that were perfectly mixed by Mr. Tiah years ago.




Currently, the products from the factory include pure black coffee mixture, black coffee 3 in 1 premix and the latest addition to their product, the white coffee 3 in 1 premix.

They even decided to re-brand their name to become Antong Coffee.




Well, this has been our story on Aun Tong, the Taiping Kopi 'O'. Its time for a coffee break... with Aun Tong Kopi 'O' of course...

Rain Rain Go Away, Come... On The Other Hand, Hold A Second...

Let's sing together now...

Rain rain, go away
Come again another day
Rain rain go away
We want to go outside and play today...

Salam and greeting.

Everyone should remember this rhyme. We sang it during kindergarten. But beware, when dark clouds are invading the Taiping skies.. don't you ever dare to sing this song, especially if you are at the market building at Kota Road. Somebody's luck is depending on the presence of this dark rain clouds.




Well, Taiping are known as the wettest and the rainiest town in Malaysia. Thus, it has created one of a kind betting games. Put away your cards, roulette or dice... you don't need them here.



Just look at the sky and bet what time does the rain going to fall. Sounds funny? Think again if the bet involve from 10 Ringgit upto thousands of Ringgit.

According to one of the punters, the betting game have been played since 1950s. What they do is to bet among the players, the time the rain start to fall.



For everybody's information, their definition of rain fall is "When the water drops from sky hitting the roof a building and then flow continuosly on to the ground."


They don't depend on the weather reports telecast but purely on personal experience. Most of them have their own way of prediction, some by just hearing the sounds of thunder, looking at the clouds formation, feeling the flow of wind directions and sometimes just purely their guts.




So, when the dark rain clouds are hovering on Taiping skies and you see some crowds at the market area, don't wish the rain to go away yet. Someone's luck is depending on it, eventhought betting is not a good habit...