Ming Xiang Tai (名香泰饼家) is a popular Cantonese pastry house in Penang. Starting as a trishaw peddler in Teluk Intan during the 1970s, the brand has expanded to several outlets throughout Penang Island.
One of the most popular outlets is a corner shop at Victoria Street (Lebuh Victoria) and Armenian Street Ghaut (Gat Lebuh Armenian) in George Town. Situated within proximity of Chew Jetty (姓周桥), the pastry house enjoys throngs of tourists every day.
It is a little-known fact that there is another outlet just several doors away from the corner shop. This smaller shop is called Ming Xiang Tai Medicine Tea Shop (名香泰凉茶铺) and faces Kedai Minuman Dan Makanan CF (进福饮食中心).
Ming Xiang Tai Medicine Tea Shop focuses on traditional Chinese herbal drinks and local products like nutmegs. Although pastry is not sold here, customers are allowed to bring food from the main shop since both outlets are essentially under the same management.
The signature item at Ming Xiang Tai is the Signature Trishaw Egg Tart (招牌三轮车蛋挞, RM2.20). Unlike most bakeries, Ming Xiang Tai uses puff pastry for the tart’s crust, instead of shortcrust pastry. Personally, I prefer the former because the flaky texture works better with egg custard. Meanwhile, the egg custard is also quite enjoyable thanks to its lovely composition.
Wife Pastry (粤式老婆饼, RM2.00) is a flaky pastry filled with sweet paste made from winter melons, almonds and sesame seeds. This is a traditional Cantonese pastry which is customarily given to relatives and friends during wedding celebrations. There are several versions regarding the origins of this pastry, one of which involves a poor man who invented the recipe buy his wife out of slavery.
As for herbal drinks, Antelope Radix (羚羊麦冬水, RM11.50) is our choice today. The refreshing sensation through the lips is complemented by bitter-sweet on the tongue. This herbal drink is believed to have cooling and cleansing properties on the human body.
Overall, I find the Signature Trishaw Egg Tart to be most delectable. Indeed, I would recommend this shop to tourists who visit Penang.
Address: 26, Gat Lebuh Armenian, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-261-9887
Business hours: 9:00am-9:00pm