Bak Kut Teh also called Bah Kut Teh is a dish that origin in Malaysia Klang. It is commonly consumed by Chinese because it contain non-halal ingredients. Malaysian must know this dish even though they do not try before. More than that, Bak Kut Teh have been brought over to other country such as Singapore and China. This dish is very popular in other country especially Singapore.
Bak Kut Teh is kind of soup containing Chinese medicine ingredients. The ingredients are simple such as pork, bone, Chinese medicine, spices (star anise, cinnamon, cloves, garlic). Normally, it will serve with strips of fried dough called “You Char Kueh”.
There are many different story of Bak Kut Teh’s history outside, but this is what I heard from elder generation and combine with some research. Back to many years ago, British empire searched a lot of resources in Malaysia and need to be shipped back to England, then build a port in Selangor Klang (Port Klang). Malaysian workers did not get a good education and need to work as miner. They need to work for very long hour everyday but not enough money to buy tonic. One of the miner boss who knew traditional Chinese medical treatment pity them and teach them to cook this kind of soup and it could provide the energy needed. Besides that, this soup is full of nutrition with Chinese medicine. Soon, it spread among the labor.
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Today, the taste and ingredients slowly changed due to the preferences of regional people. It is a very common food so you can get this at many places.
Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh – Kota Kinabalu
Nam Chai Restaurant Bak Kut Teh – Sandakan
In the East Malaysia, a different style of bak kut teh is served. From the pictures above, you can see there are a lot of small bowls with different dishes which include seafood as Sandakan is the heaven of seafood, pork organs, vegetables, pork balls and so on served with hot home made bak kut teh soup.
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