Taiping is famous for many things - their idyllic lake garden, a well managed zoo, the nice & cooling Maxwell Hill, etc. But I've never heard of their famous Kaya Puff...until a local shared it with me recently!
The "shop" is located within a neighbourhood in Kampung Baru Aulong. Even with Google Maps, I had a hard time finding the place as I was smack in the middle of a row of house when Google proudly announced "You've arrived". After a few turns around the area, I finally spotted the place:
Turns out I had to go to the back lane of the house! And due to COVID, they have kept the door closed and orders must be made verbally.
To my dismay, most things were sold out by 2pm! I proceeded to order the only 2 freshly baked items that were left - one of it was their piping hot Kaya Puffs. And it's takeaway only so I hurried to the nearest convenient place to dig in.
Let's makan!
Kaya Puff/Kaya Kok (4.5/5)
The kaya puffs look and smell amazing!
Buttery and crispy, the pastry was beautifully flaky. The kaya itself was not too sweet and has a pastier texture than I imagined - but it's definitely quality homemade kaya full of santan(coconut milk) fragrance.
Hap Tou Sou (4.5/5)
Hap Tou Sou are essentially old school Chinese walnut cookies. Some like it soft & crumbly while some prefer it on the crunchier side. It's been awhile since I last had Hap Tou Sou and look at the size of their cookie! It might not be as big as a Subway cookie but it's definitely thicker!
The exterior is pretty crunchy and the inside was nice and crumbly. It tasted fragrant and sweet with a hint of saltiness. The layer of sesame seeds at the bottom also gave it an additional dose of nutty aroma. After two bites, I packed it away to enjoy later with a nice cup of tea.
Overall, I enjoyed the two pastries that I've managed to try. The shop is slightly tricky to find and it's not a place that non-locals would chance upon. I'll definitely be back again - this time in the morning - so that I can sample a few other baked treats!
Sabbylicious Makan Rating
Food : 4.5/5
Price : 4.5/5
Environment : 4/5
Service : 4/5
Must order : Kaya Puff & Hap Tou Sou
Operating Hours Friday-Wednesday (9am - 6pm). Best to arrive as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Location
Chok Kee Confectionery
1106-D, Jalan Permaisuri, Kampung Baru Aulong, 34000 Taiping, Perak