Ghee Hiang vs Him Heang

What would you buy for your friend as souvenir if you are in Penang?

I bet it would be a box of 'Tau Sar Pneah' or better known as Tambun biscuit.

There is 2 famous brand in Penang been Ghee Hiang and Him Heang, rumour to be manage by siblings!

It have been a long debate between this 2 brands of which is better.

Ghee Hiang been the most famous among the tourist have 2 outlets in Penang, one being in Macalister road and another one at Burmah Road.

Ghee Hiang tambun biscuit come with nice box, pre-pack into a plactic bags of 4 biscuit each. Their main point of selling are the old brand name of 150 years and cleanliness.

For me, I think the outer skin of ghee hiang biscuit was somehow not as fresh and nice as Him Heang. The filling was a bit too sweet to my liking but was less oily.


Him Heang on another hand is more famous among the local and also my prefer choice. Located at Burmah road, Him Heang always face shortage of supply and it was well known that sometime, one have to pre-order before able to collect their tambun biscuit.

Him Heang biscuit have a well done outer layer been medium crispy. The filling was much oily been more lard and fried scallot been mixed with the bean (Tau Sar). The aroma of the filling is much stronger than those of Ghee Hiang.

Their selling point is that freshly baked from oven. One can feel the fresh heat been release from the box.

The only bad things about Him Heang is the packaging was not nicely done. If you put on your car and you drive from Penang to KL, most probably all the biscuit is upsite down in the box! Well, not really a nice way to give out as a gift...hehe

Anyway, Ghee Hiang vs Him Heang....I personally think it would much depend on each person taste and preferances. I personally like Him Heang, my sister prefer Ghee Hiang....So which 'Hiang' are you?