I’ve really lost track of the number of times that I have been to Malaysia. I can with complete honesty say that it is one of my favorite south east Asian countries. The people are friendly, the food is amazing and there is just so much to see.
Needless to say, every time I head there I land up bringing in loads of souvenirs from Malaysia.
Funny story about that. The first time round, I found this amazing wool shop in Bukit Bintang. We could not get good wool in India easily back then. I bought a lot.
Obviously when I was pregnant I needed special wool so a friend went thinking he would get a bundle or two. No. He fell in love with the wool and brought back a suitcase full!
It has become a right of passage to visit the shop. That isn’t even delving into the things I buy from Meeples the Boardgame cafe! We go here and shop for board games like crazy. Ultimately we always land up buying suitcases in Kuala Lumpur to fit the board games!
These aren’t the only souvenirs in Malaysia that we get though. Here are some of our top suggestions. Some we buy, some we admire and some we cannot leave the country without!
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Souvenirs From Malaysia: Table Of Content
- Dodol
- White Coffee
- Cameron Tea
- Instant Noodles
- Pickles
- Sarawak Layered Cake
- Durian And Durian Flavored Products
- Spices
- Sauces
- Pearls
- Bangles And Watches
- Kerongsang (Brooches)
- Cucuk Sanggul (Hairpins)
- Hair clips
- Batik
- Traditional Games
- Handicrafts
- Keris (Ceremonial Dagger)
- Kid’s toys
- Board Games
- Nutmeg Oil
- Natural Body Care Products
1. Dodol
Dodol is one of the interesting souvenirs from Malaysia that people love to buy.
The dodol is nicely wrapped in plastic packets and makes great souvenirs from Malaysia.
While listing edible souvenirs from Malaysia, one could never miss out on the famous “Dodol”. Dodol is primarily made from coconut milk, glutinous rice flour, and palm sugar.
In Goa, it is a must-have sweet for Christmas. Moms and daughters bond with each other while preparing this chewy sweet. When I found Dodol on my trip to Malaysia, I was surprised and yet instantly reminded of home.
The dodol does taste different mind you. The texture is more chewy when compared to the soft pudding like consistency of the dodol in Goa.
Dodol in Malaysia comes in different varieties. Dodol durian , Dodol padang , Dodol mangga to name a few. These names are given on the basis of the key ingredient.
For instance, Dodol durian is made from the jackfruit resembling fruit – durian while Dodol mangga is made from mango. If you have a sweet tooth, grab a box of your favorite Dodol as a take-home souvenir, and thank me later!
2. White Coffee
Gotta love the white coffee. It is one of the souvenirs from Malaysia that we never leave without!
What’s new in coffee, you ask? Wait until you reach Ipoh. Ipoh offers the one of a kind, “White Coffee”. This creamy, sweet and aromatic coffee has a pale brown color.
I’ll be honest. We haven’t reached Ipoh yet but we have tasted the coffee. In fact, you will find white coffee not just in Malaysia but in other parts of South East Asia.
Usually, we just buy ourselves a huge pack of the instant mixes and tote it around. That way we can make instant coffee whenever we stay. It is especially great if the accommodation does not provide breakfast.
It is interesting to note how the Ipoh white coffee is made. The beans are roasted in oil and no caramelized sugar is added.
Thus, the beans have a lighter shade; hence, the name White Coffee has been coined. Be it, locals or tourists, this drink has left its impact on everyone, including me.
So much so that I got a packet while coming home. A tough day at work, a heartbreak, or the occasional existential crisis, there’s nothing that a cup of coffee can’t fix. And this one will surely make your heart flutter!
Definitely one of the best (and cheapest!) souvenirs in Malaysia to take home.
Curious to know how White Coffee tastes, get yourself a packet now.
3. Cameron Tea
If you are a tea lover then you should definitely look into getting Cameron Highland tea as one of your Malaysian souvenirs.
Won’t you agree that tea is an instant mood-changer? Its aroma and subtle flavor can give you the boost you need for the day.
The Cameron Highlands in Pahang Malaysia is known for the best-grown tea leaves in the world.
Why? Located 5000 m above sea level with quiet, cool nights and lots of sunshine, they have the best temperatures to produce the finest tea leaves.
Along with that, the plantations here employ traditional methods of farming which guarantee consistent flavor. This freshest tea in Malaysia is then plucked, processed, and packed with precision. I would definitely recommend this as a takeaway souvenir for all tea lovers.
You can also experience the Cameron highland goodness sitting at home by ordering it online.
4. Instant Noodles
Instant noodles is one of the best edible souvenirs from Malaysia to pack. It is leak proof and light!
The Malaysian Noodles aka “Ramen” come in different brands and are excellent souvenirs from Malaysia to bring back home.
Be it – Laksa Sarawak, Pandan White Curry Noodles, Vegetarian Noodles, Tum Yum Noodles, or any other variety, the Malaysian spices in them, will leave you wanting for more.
You can even try out exciting Ramen recipes with these instant noodles.
Grabbing a few packets will surely keep your Malaysian taste buds alive, even after you are back home.
5. Pickles
If you love vinegar and spice then one of the souvenirs from Malaysia you should try is the pickles!
An amalgamation of Malaysian spices, vegetables, and vinegar, forms Malaysian pickles. The mouth-watering flavor, aroma and crunchiness are to die for.
Pickles go as a side dish with rice, noodles, starters, anything and everything. It’s one of the high-in-demand commodities in Malaysia.
The Nyonya Vegetable pickle is a delicious one. It has beautiful textures because of the peanuts. Pickles can be kept in the fridge for weeks, thus making them perfect souvenirs from Malaysia to buy.
6. Sarawak Layered Cake
One of the best souvenirs from Malaysia to take home is the Sarawak layered cake.
Sarawak’s famous “Kek Lapis” (layered cake) is a cake lover’s delight! I was astounded to see the colorful patterns, motifs and shapes that the layers generated.
The cake is baked layer by layer and held together by jam in between. Orange, yellow, brown, green, neon – you name the color and it can be found in one of those layers.
This cake is a must-have for Sarawak Day. It’s also prepared during other festivals and can be found anywhere in the state of Sarawak. It’s a perfect gift for friends and family.
7. Durian And Durian Flavored Products
If you want to take Durian as one of your souvenirs from Malaysia, make sure that you check with the mode of transport you take because it isn’t allowed on all of them!
Popular in Southeast Asia as the “king of fruits”, the Durian looks a lot like jackfruit but has a distinct smell. It’s highly nutritious and is known to prevent heart disease and lower the risk of cancer.
The edible flesh and seeds are then used in cookies, cakes, soups, ice creams and other products. Durian-flavored chewable candies also make an excellent addition to our list of souvenirs.
8. Spices
Spices is one of the most popular souvenirs from Malaysia.
Malaysian spices can add a zing to any dish. You can buy pepper, cinnamon, cloves, lemongrass, nutmeg, fenugreek, green cardamom, star anise, turmeric and many other spices anywhere in Malaysia.
You can also find the “Panch Poran” which is a mixture of 5 spices. If you like to cook and you are a foodie with a knack for spicy food, Malaysian spices are your go-to items.
9. Sauces
Ever been in a restaurant and wondered what’s the type of the sauce that’s served???
Well, the variety of sauces found in Malaysia will leave you spellbound! Light soy sauce, Dark soy sauce, Sweet soy sauce, Hoisin sauce, Sweet chili sauce, Cincaluk(fermented small shrimps), Asam Jawa, the list is endless.
Many of the street side vendors make their own special variants of the sauces. It is what gets them their fame. Take the street food in Penang for example. People flock to their regular joints and the lines feel never ending.
Luckily you don’t have to sit and grind your own sauces. Fresh and tasty and diligently packed in bottles, sauces are easy-to-bring-home souvenirs from Malaysia. You get them in any of the local grocery stores.
But in case you have missed it you can check it out here.
Souvenirs from Malaysia: Wearables and Accessories
10. Pearls
Pearls are another one of the popular souvenirs from Malaysia.
Did you know that no two pearls ever look the same?
The town of Sabah in Malaysia is famous for cultured pearls. The Kota Kinabalu market has many stalls where peddlers sell different colored pearls and ready-made pearl jewelry.
Sabah has 2 types of pearls: freshwater pearls which come in varying shapes and sizes and saltwater pearls which are round and thus pricey.
There is no doubt that the beauty of pearls charms all women. A piece of classy pearl jewelry is a fantastic addition to our collection. Hence, I would recommend getting this lustrous souvenir from Malaysia.
The price range is from RM10 to RM100. You can buy them from the Kota Kinabalu market after checking their authenticity.
11. Bangles And Watches
Malaysian gold bangles are popular among tourists. You will find them in jewelry shops in Kuala Lumpur.
The watches here come in different brands like Ming, Nocturne, Masa Horlogerie Kuala Lumpur, and Malaya. They are chic and stylish. You can get yourself a fancy watch as a souvenir from Malaysia.
12. Kerongsang (Brooches)
Made up of silver or gold, a kerongsang is a type of brooch worn by the ladies of Malaysia. It is used to button together the famous “Baju Kebaya”(dress worn by Southeast Asian women). It usually comes in sets of 3, chained together.
The central piece is large and referred to as the “Ibu” (mother) while the other 2 pieces are small and are called “Anak” (child).
Kerongsang has motifs of flowers, insects, leaves and butterflies decorated with diamonds.
13. Cucuk Sanggul (Hairpins)
Another unique accessory worn by the women of Malaysia is the Cucuk Sanggul. It’s a hairpin having 2 parts – the head and the body.
The head is round in shape and could be worn like a hairband. The body on the other hand is attached to the head and spans from 8-13 cm in height. The height may vary depending on the thickness of the hair.
The patterns on the body have decorated birds, butterflies, and flowers. You can also find characters from ancient stories, folktales and mythology.
Cucuk Sanggul is worn during Malaysian ceremonies and represents the cultural heritage of Malaysia. When pinned to the hair bun, it looks like a crown.
This souvenir can be bought in boutiques and jewelry shops.
14. Hair clips
Hairclips make great souvenirs from Malaysia.
Just like cucuk sanggul, you can find a variety of hair clips in the markets of Malaysia. Their designs are endless.
Found in different colors with beads or diamonds, bows, flowers and even butterflies, the hair clips here are fashionable and trendy.
You can find one for any hairstyle and any outfit. Little girls are immediately attracted to them. This is one of the perfect souvenirs from Malaysia that can be gifted to the ladies in your friend circle and family.
15. Batik
You can find batik in almost every second shop. It is so popular as one of the souvenirs in Malaysia.
Batik is a textile art technique in Malaysia where they decorate the cloth with wax and dye method. Found mostly on the east coast of Malaysia, batik has vibrant colors, geometrical designs, patterns and flowers.
They could be hand drawn or block printed. In hand-drawn batiks, the design is drawn using a metal object called the canting. In block-printed batiks, a copper or wooden block stamp is used.
Batiks look simple but they can make you stand out in the crowd. If you are looking for authentic Malaysian clothes, batik is a great choice!
Souvenirs from Malaysia: Games and Handicrafts
16. Traditional Games
The traditional games of Malaysia will entertain your kids and the kid in you.
Remember, beyblades? “The Gasing (spinning top)”, is the Malaysian version of beyblades. It’s fun to watch the kids spinning these wooden tops.
Another famous game is Congkak. It’s played on a wooden board that has 6-7 smaller circles and 2 bigger circles.
The aim is to collect the maximum number of marbles. This looks easy but can keep you engaged for quite some time.
There is also “Batu Seremban” (5 triangles), where the player has to toss and collect the triangles. You can buy these games from the Central Market and have some fun.
17. Handicrafts
Some of the coolest souvenirs from Malaysia are the handicrafts that you can see in all the street markets.
Malaysian handicrafts are made from organic materials like bamboo, wood, coconut leaves and so on. You can find woven baskets, bags, purses, mats, sandals and wooden kitchen utensils to take back home.
The artists also keep paintings, dolls and home décor items. These are cost-effective yet memorable souvenirs from Malaysia.
18. Keris (Ceremonial Dagger)
When you see a traditional dagger in movies, does it give you royal and magical vibes?
If yes, holding a keris in hand will make you feel like a warrior! It is a double-edged dagger with the blade surface having patterns of waves.
The blade could be straight or meandering. In ancient times, people believed that keris possessed magical powers. Nowadays it’s a symbol of good luck. The detailing on the keris is based on Malaysian history and philosophy.
This souvenir from Malaysia will remind you of Malaysia’s craftsmanship and who knows, it might even get you some good luck!
19. Kid’s Toys
Toys are great souvenirs from Malaysia to take back home.
Malaysian toy stores have a lot of fun and educational toys for all age groups. From remote control cars to pretend and play sets, you can find it all here. There are also crafts sets, board games, adventure games and soft toys. Your kids will love the range of toys found here.
Malaysia is a great place to buy Legos too! After all Legoland is in Malaysia! I recently learned that Barbie dolls are also imported to India from Malaysia which is why we find it really cheap to buy them in Malaysia. Plus they have so many options which we don’t have.
20. Board Games
Malaysia has a huge board game community. As I mentioned before, we always stop in Kuala Lumpur on our way back just because we want to get our hands on some board games.
Meeples Board Game Café is definitely the best in town.
They often have sales and you should try to head there around this time. There are other cafes but we found that this one always has the best deals.
If you are not sure where to start when it comes to buying board games, I would recommend checking out our extensive guide to travel board games.
As avid board gamers we hate leaving our games at home. These are the best picks that work well in size, replayability (not sure if that’s even a word) and cost.
Souvenirs from Malaysia: Body Care
21. Nutmeg Oil
Nutmeg is a popular spice in Malaysia and is often found in Malaysian cuisines. Nutmeg seed oil, however, is used for medicinal purposes.
It relieves pain – headache, joint pain, stomach ache, improves the menstrual cycle, helps heal mental stress and improves skin and hair health.
It’s beneficial for patients having arthritis and rheumatism. Nutmeg oil also elevates mood and reduces anxiety. You can get Nutmeg oil in any pharmacy in Penang and across the country.
You can also get it online
22. Natural Body Care Products
Malaysian body care products are made from natural ingredients like turmeric, hibiscus and coconut oil. You can get soaps, essential oils, body scrubs, lip balms, cleansers and many more.
Malaysia is known for its massage and spa treatments and the natural products enhance this experience. You can buy from the brand of your choice.
Honestly, the choice is varied so if you to head to a spa and fall in love with a brand, add it to your list of souvenirs from Malaysia that you just have to get!
And there you have it folks. An epic list of everything that we just have to get as souvenirs in Malaysia. Well to be honest, we don’t buy all these items. Its usually board games and wool BUT kids games have started becoming one of our popular things we take back.
Are there are any other souvenirs from Malaysia that you would add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.
