Tour of Pahang - Brief Stop at Bentong

On our way back from Sungai Lembing to Kuala Lumpur, we made a deliberate detour to Bentong - a small town with a big reputation - for one specific purpose: to let the ladies buy the famous Bentong ginger.

According to its promoters, Bentong ginger is no ordinary root. It is said to be cultivated in a “heavenly environment” - with fresh mountain air, crystal-clear spring water, and fertile, moisture-rich tropical soil found in the highlands of Bukit Tinggi. This unique combination, they claim, produces ginger that is spicier, more aromatic, and more potent than regular varieties. In their words, it is “the best of the best.”

Whether it was the allure of the health benefits or simply the thrill of getting a sought-after local specialty at its source, the ladies were all in - and so our journey gained another flavorful memory.

While in Bentong, my ever-reliable Garmin GPS led us to a well-known roadside stall next to the wet market, reputed for its taufu fa (soybean pudding). Without hesitation, we stopped to try it - and we weren’t disappointed.

The elderly vendor, friendly and full of character, shared with me that his family has been running the stall for over 50 years, passing down the craft through generations. The taufu fa was smooth, delicate, and subtly sweet - a simple dessert, yet perfected with time and tradition.

It was one of those unexpected little gems that make a trip truly memorable.

The smiles speak for its quality.

 

Post note: Thanks to my wife’s industrious efforts and green thumb, Bentong ginger is now growing in the backyard of our home. With any luck - and a bit of patience - our future supply of this prized ginger will be just 10 to 20 feet away from the kitchen, instead of a road trip to Bentong.

Here’s hoping for a bountiful backyard harvest in the not-too-distant future!