Spices of Kuching
The capital of Sarawak on Borneo, the centre of Malaysia's Sarawak pepper and its Chinese and Dayak food.
Traded and grown here
Best time: May to August, around harvest and the drier season.
Kuching lies on the Sarawak River. Sarawak is Malaysia's main pepper-growing state, and Sarawak pepper is sold as both black and white. The state also has local spices and herbs such as terung asam and wild ginger flowers.
Spices and trade
Pepper vines grow on poles on small farms across the state, and the Malaysian Pepper Board has a base in Kuching. Pepper is used in Sarawak laksa and in Chinese pepper dishes.
The place and its people
The population includes Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, Malay and Chinese communities. Sarawak laksa has a paste that includes sambal belacan, galangal, lemongrass, tamarind and spices.
Visiting
The waterfront, the old bazaar and the Sarawak Laksa breakfasts are highlights. Pepper farms can be visited from the city.
A trail idea for Kuching
- A pepper farm See vines and processing.
- Kuching waterfront Walk the riverside.
- A laksa breakfast Eat Sarawak laksa.
- Main Bazaar Browse the old shophouses.
Written by the EveryMasala desk with AI assistance. Background: "Kuching" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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