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EveryMasala

Spices of Kuching

The capital of Sarawak on Borneo, the centre of Malaysia's Sarawak pepper and its Chinese and Dayak food.

Kuching

Traded and grown here

Black pepperGalangal

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

  1. A pepper farm See vines and processing.
  2. Kuching waterfront Walk the riverside.
  3. A laksa breakfast Eat Sarawak laksa.
  4. Main Bazaar Browse the old shophouses.
About this page

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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