What to buy in Malacca? — +17 must-have souvenirs & best things to buy in Melaka

The ancient city of Malacca is known for its quaint houses with murals, the convergence of quintessence from many cultures, the diverse and fascinating culinary world, the peaceful beauty of the river, along with many UNESCO cultural heritages… If you have the opportunity to set foot in this beautiful city, do not forget to refer to the list of must-buy items when traveling to Malacca that we will introduce to you below. So, what is Malacca famous for and what to buy in Malacca (what to buy in Melaka)? Let’s check out our Malacca shopping guide (Melaka shopping) with the suggested of +17 must buy in Malacca, things to buy in Malacca (things to buy in Melaka) as well as where to find them to help you bring back meaningful gifts after the trip!

What to buy in Malacca: Pineapple tarts

Malacca pineapple tart is a type of pastry, topping with pineapple jam. The main ingredients of pineapple tarts in Malacca are butter, egg yolks and corn starch. You can also come across green pineapple tarts, thanks to the wonderful blend of these ingredients that creates delicious, greasy tarts.

Where to buy: For about 25 MYR  for a box of pineapple tarts, you can easily buy these boxes at night markets and convenience stores. Especially, there is a shop specializing in selling famous pastries in Malacca with the best pineapple tarts at Baba Charlie Nyonya Cakes (Address: 72, Lorong Tengkera Pantai 2c, Kampung Tengkera Pantai Dua, 75200 Melaka/Phone: +60 19-666 2907). Or at LW Nyonya Pineapple Tarts House (Address: 95, Jalan Kubu, 75300 Melaka, Malaysia/Hours: 11:30AM–9:30PM; Wednesday Closed).

Cincalok (Cincaluk, Chincalok, Cencaluk, Sambal Cincalok)

Considered is considered a condiment with a characteristic aroma, along with lemon, garlic, chili,… cincalok will bring perfection to your meal. Like in Penang, cincalok in Malacca is made from fermented small shrimp (udang geragau) or krill with an unforgettable pungent spicy flavor. It will be usually served as a dipping sauce together with chillis, shallots and lime juice. If you have had the opportunity to enjoy and love this unique condiment in Malacca, do not hesitate to buy it as a gift for your relatives and friends. You can find it throughout Melaka from spice stalls, convenience stores, markets, department stores.

Must buy in Malacca: Jaggery

Palm sugar is a condiment not too strange to Vietnamese, Indian, Cambodian people. In Malacca, jaggery has a rather distinct flavor, made from the sap of the jaggery tree, boiled to create a characteristic dark brown color.

When using it for the first time, you will feel a strange smoke smell, but if you are used to preparing some dishes, you will feel like it because of the sweet taste of this special sugar. This is really a Malacca gift for mothers and housewives in the family.

Where to buy: You can easily buy a few pounds of jaggery at the markets, grocery stores, convenience stores in Malacca city, the price of a pound of jaggery is about  30 MYR.

But a more prestigious place you can visit to buy this sugar is the supermarket AEON Bandaraya Melaka (Address: 2, Jalan Lagenda 2, Taman 1 Lagenda, 75400 Melaka, Malaysia/Hours: 10AM–10PM).

Must buy in Malacca: Kacang Tumbuk (Peanut Candy)

Peanut candy is a popular sweet gift in Melaka. This candy has been around for a long time, and the recipe to make up its flavor is still loved today. The main ingredients of candy are sugar, salt, peanuts, etc. It is the perfect combination of peanuts and sugar that makes this delicious candy. If the receiver is a sweet lover, you should definitely buy it for them, a meaningful gift, right?!

Where to buy: Each pack of peanut candies is priced from 9.6 MYR  to 10.6 MYR, which you can easily find at convenience stores in Malacca or AEON Bandaraya Melaka shopping mall as mentioned above.

What to buy in Malacca: Sarawak white pepper

Your barbecue will be more rich and savory with Sarawak white pepper. Peppercorns are carefully selected, through the process of drying, grinding, and jarring to bring an interesting culinary gift of the land of Malacca.

A spice that many Asian tourists, especially Southeast Asians choose as a gift is Sarawak white pepper, another specialty of Melaka.

Where to buy: You can buy jars of these white peppercorns at AEON Melaka Shopping Center as mentioned above for about 31 MYR, you can also easily find jars of these peppers in markets, grocery stores and supermarkets in Malacca.

What to buy in Malacca: Dried Rice Vermicelli (Rice noodles, rice sticks)

The noodles made from rice flour is the specialty you can bring back from Malacca. Vermicelli has many types, thick or thin fibers, depending on the purpose of the cook, whether it is stir-fried or cooked, instant noodles, etc. Dried rice vermicelli has a pure delicious taste of rice, is easy to prepare and can save cooking time.

Dry rice vermicelli, simply understood as vermicelli is made from rice flour, through a complex processing process, to create dry noodles. With this type of vermicelli, people often use it to stir-fry, cook or eat immediately, like instant noodles. However, it is delicious and safer than instant noodles many times.

Where to buy: You can easily buy this dry food at Jonker Street Night Market (Address: Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka, Malaysia / Hours:Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 6PM–12AM) with prices from only 4 MYR small pack and 6 MYR large pack.

Melaka shopping: Nutmeg essential oil

You are looking to buy a useful product that is both beneficial for your health and can be a gift, then nutmeg essential oil is a suggestion for you. It has many health benefits, such as enhancing female physiology, reducing joint pain, detoxifying the body, helping blood circulation, etc. And especially, nutmeg oil can also be used as a condiment for some dishes.

What to buy in Melaka: Natural skin care products

While chemical cosmetic and skin care products always have potential hazards, natural products are always appreciated, thanks to safe and completely natural and organic ingredients. If you don’t know what to buy in Malacca, try looking at safe natural beauty products. You can easily find these products in shopping malls and cosmetic stores in Malacca. However, you should choose stores that specialize in selling natural products to ensure absolute safety. There are many options for you, from cleansers, shower gels, shampoos, soaps to lotions, masks, etc.

The skin care products of cosmetic companies often have preservatives, chemicals, using too much will irritate the skin, making the skin not good. Therefore, buying natural skin care products is always appreciated because it is safe for human health.

Natural beauty products you can easily find in Malacca such as handmade scented soaps, shampoos with natural essences, shower gels, face masks from activated charcoal, aloe vera…

What to buy in Melaka: Dodol (Palm Sugar Glutinous Rice Sweet)

It’s the Malay’s traditional sweet that made in Malacca, with the main ingredients of rice flour and jaggery. Dodol in Malacca also comes in many flavors, but the most popular is durian flavor. In addition, there are some other flavors such as mango, apple, pineapple, coconut, vanilla, etc. Dodol candies are produced in cylindrical, square, or diamond shapes, etc., wrapped in transparent cellophane. Dodol is also an interesting gift that you can buy as a gift in Malacca.

This is a local sweet toffee-like sugar palm-based confection), produced only in Malacca, so it is considered a signature gift of the city. So, if you have young children, they will surely enjoy it.

Where to buy: For as little as 5 MYR a Dodol bar, you’ll find it at Jonker Street Night Market as mentioned above.

Things to buy in Malacca: Coconut candy

If you are looking to buy a candy to bring back as a gift in Malacca, surely coconut candy with jaggery will be an option not to be missed. Coconut candy has a fragrant, greasy taste, along with the typical jaggery of Malacca, which will bring an irresistible experience. It’s also compact, easy to bring.

White coffee

For coffee lovers, you should buy white coffee in Malacca as a gift. Malacca’s white coffee flavor is not like other coffees, the sweetness and unique aroma from coconut sugar and jaggery will definitely be a sweet, unforgettable gift, a must buy in Malacca.

If you are wondering about choosing a Malacca gift, then consider buying white coffee. Because this is one of the most typical and famous coffees of this city. Its delicious, rich flavor and difference you will not find in any other coffee. Try sipping a cup of white coffee, you’ll surely addict it.

Where to buy: You should choose to buy these coffee packages at AEON Melaka Shopping Center with prices from 35 MYR a large package or coffee shops across the city.

Things to buy in Malacca: Garlic Chili Sauce

If your loved ones and friends love the pungent taste of spices, then don’t miss this unique condiment. Malacca’s garlic and chili sauce has a distinctive strong flavor that will become an indispensable part of your meals.

Things to buy in Melaka: Teh Tarik

Teh Tarik tea is also considered as a drink showing the unique cultural interference of China, India and Malaysia. This specialty tea is not too sweet, and is suitable for all ages. To enhance the taste, when enjoying, we can add cardamom, cloves or ginger. You also have the option of adding condensed milk for a deliciously delicious beverage.

Things to buy in Melaka: Handicrafts

Another piece of advice for you is handicraft products. This is considered one of the most popular gifts, because of the sophistication and elaborateness that these products show. You can buy these souvenirs to decorate in your home, or to display in your office, etc. As long as you take the time to shop, you will surely choose unique items!

Where to buy: Almost souvenirs, always the most sought after by tourists and you can buy them at the markets of Malacca. Some items you can consider buying such as: sedge bags, rattan baskets, brocade, jewelry, t-shirts,… Or you can also go to RazKashmir Crafts (Address: 12, Jalan Tukang Emas, 75200 Melaka, Malaysia/Hours: 10AM–7PM) is also a place where many tourists gather to buy souvenirs. Because the items here are diverse and rich, giving you more choices. And if you are fluent in the local language, then ask the owner for advice on the best gifts.

What is Malacca famous for: T-shirt, Keychains

The other Malacca gift for friends are T-shirts or Keychains printed famous symbol of Melaka. T-shirt is an outfit for you to wear to go out or go to school. T-shirts in Malacca are mainly hand-printed or painted with famous landmarks, historical sites, and attractions.

Where to buy: You can choose to go to shopping centers such as AEON Melaka Shopping Center, night market in Jonker old town, or you can visit Umyang Batik store (Address: 6, Jalan Hang Kasturi, 75200 Melaka, Malaysia/Hours: 11:30AM–7PM/Wednesday: Closed).

Paintings

The art of painting in Malacca is also quite developed, you can easily find some paintings with tourist icons in Malacca. This is definitely an interesting gift for art enthusiasts and lovers, a what to buy in Melaka.

Batik Silk Fabric

Batik silk fabric is a traditional fabric of the Malaysian people appearing in most of the commercial centers, cloth shops across the country. In Malacca, fabrics are meticulously painted with specific details, decorative patterns and motifs for about MYR 50 a meter of fabric. This fabric is often sewn into scarves, pillows, traditional costumes. This is a great gift for moms and sisters.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Melaka you can refer to

• Melaka Day Tour with Attraction Tickets from Kuala Lumpur
• Historical Melaka Tour with Lunch from Kuala Lumpur
• Melaka Day Tour with Attraction Tickets from Kuala Lumpur
• Private City Transfers for Kuala Lumpur and Surrounding Cities
• [SALE] 4G Prepaid SIM Card (MY Airports Pick Up) for Malaysia
• 4G WiFi (MY Airport Pick Up) for Malaysia
• Malacca Night Tour with River Cruise and Trishaw Ride
• Historical Melaka Tour with Lunch
• Zoo Melaka Admission Ticket
• Melaka Wonderland Water Theme Park Ticket
• Melaka Crocodile and Recreation Park Ticket
• Kidzooona Ticket in Melaka
• Upside Down House Gallery Melaka Ticket
• Melaka Bird Park Ticket

Are you looking for Melaka travel guide? Read more: Malacca travel blog — The fullest Malacca travel guide for a wonderful trip to Melaka, Malaysia.