Tips & Lifestyle

12 Homegrown Malaysian Brands to Fill Your Trolley With

12 Homegrown Malaysian Brands to Fill Your Trolley With

Malaysia Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, 16 September. It marks the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, when Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined together — and it is a different occasion from Merdeka Day on 31 August, which marks independence in 1957. It is a mid-week public holiday, which means most of us will be cooking at home. Here are 12 Malaysian brands worth putting in the trolley, and a menu to put them to work.

 

12 homegrown Malaysian brands worth knowing

Grouped by aisle. Some of these you already buy without thinking about it. A few you may not have noticed were Malaysian at all — and several come from Sabah and Sarawak, which most local-brand lists quietly skip.

In the tea and drinks aisle

1. Boh — Cameron Highlands, Pahang. Malaysia’s largest tea producer, growing on the same Cameron Highlands slopes since 1929. Boh Cameron Highlands Tea Leaves 250g (RM7.40) for a proper pot, Boh Tea Potbags 80s (RM9.80) for the everyday, or Boh Seri Songket Lychee with Rose (RM11.20) if you want something to serve guests.

2. Sabah Tea — Ranau, Sabah. Grown on the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, on one of the few tea gardens in the world sitting inside a rainforest. Sabah Tea Pot Bags 40s (RM6.20). If you buy one new thing off this list, make it this — most peninsular Malaysians have never tried it.

3. Farm Fresh — Johor, Selangor. Made in Malaysia for over 10 years, and Malaysians drink more of it per head than almost anyone on earth. Farm Fresh Pure Fresh Milk 2L (RM16.70)

In the spice and seasoning aisle

4. HKC and Cap Lembu Sarawak Pepper — Sarawak. Sarawak pepper is a protected geographical indication and one of the best peppers in the world, and Malaysians consistently under-use it. HKC Sarawak Pepper Powder 500g (RM13.40) for serious cooking, or Cap Lembu Sarawak Pepper Powder 50g (RM3.65) to try it. Put it on everything.

5. Babas — Malaysia. The curry powder in most Malaysian kitchens. Babas Meat Curry Powder 250g (RM6.70), Fish Curry Powder 250g (RM6.70), Chilli Powder 250g (RM8.20) and Serbuk Kunyit 125g (RM3.90). Ground for Malaysian palates, which is exactly why imported curry powder never tastes right.

6. Adabi — Selangor. Started in 1980 and now in practically every kitchen cupboard. Adabi Sambal Tumis Ikan Bilis 60g (RM2.50) is the fastest nasi lemak shortcut in the store. Also worth having: Traditional Spicy Sambal Belacan 180g (RM7.20), Chicken and Meat Curry Powder (RM1.50) and Mini Ketupat 20g x 30 (RM9.80).

7. Tean’s Gourmet — Penang. Nyonya pastes made properly, and the reason a weeknight rendang is possible at all. Tean’s Rendang Dry Curry Paste 200g (RM6.90), Chicken Curry Paste (RM6.90), Assam Seafood Paste (RM6.90) and Steam Fish Paste Nyonya Style (RM6.90).

8. Habhals / Cap Kipas Udang — Johor. The kicap on Malaysian tables for generations. Kipas Udang Kicap Lemak Masin 645ml (RM9.50), Habhals Sweet Soya Bean Sauce 645ml (RM11.50) or the 345ml (RM7.20). Sweet soy is the backbone of half of Malaysian home cooking.

In the baking and sweet aisle

9. Madam Yap Gula Melaka — Malaysia. Palm sugar in whatever form your recipe needs: Filtered 500g (RM11.00), Cube 350g (RM14.90), Syrup 400ml (RM14.90) or Powder 350g (RM14.90). There is also Sweet Home Gula Melaka 300g (RM5.50) if you want the everyday block.

In the snacks and biscuit aisle

10. Mamee — Ayer Keroh, Melaka. A Malaysian company that is over 40 years of heritage in food and manufacturing. Get the Mamee Monster Noodle Snacks BBQ Flavour Family Pack 20g x 10 (RM3.99) for your guests.

11. Julie’s — Melaka. The biscuit on every Malaysian coffee table since 1985. Julie’s Peanut Butter Sandwich 360g (RM11.50), Cheese Sandwich 336g (RM11.50) or Le-Mond Puff Cheddar Cheese (RM6.20).

In the chilled and frozen aisle

12. Ayamas — Malaysia. Halal-certified Malaysian poultry, and the freezer standby for a house full of people. Ayamas Crispy Fried Chicken 850g (RM23.49), Golden Nuggets 850g (RM19.90) or Chicken Frankfurters 340g (RM7.00).

Also on the shelf and also Malaysian: Ikan Bilis Kopek Langkawi 200g (RM16.15), Gardenia Auntie Rosie’s Natural Kaya 200g (RM3.90), Mamee Chef Sarawak Laksa 90g x 4 (RM4.99), Dried Sarawak Kolo Mee 340g (RM7.20), Sarawak Pineapple (RM7.20) and Grab Signatures Village Park Nasi Lemak Sambal Jar 225g (RM17.90) — sambal from one of KL’s most argued-about nasi lemak institutions.

The Malaysia Day table: five dishes, five shopping lists

A menu that actually represents the federation — peninsular and East Malaysian, Malay, Chinese, Indian and Nyonya. Cook one, cook all five.

1. Nasi lemak — the national default

If you make one thing on 16 September, make this.

Shortcut: cook the rice with santan, pandan and a bruised stalk of serai. That is the entire trick. Everything else is garnish.

2. Ayam masak merah — the kenduri classic

Source: Motherhood

3. Beef rendang — Negeri Sembilan by way of Minangkabau

Source: Smart Cooking

The rule: rendang is finished when the liquid is gone and the oil has come back out. Anything wetter than that is a curry wearing a rendang name tag.

4. Sarawak laksa — the East Malaysian one nobody makes enough

Source: AsianInspirations

This is the dish that makes it a Malaysia Day table rather than a Merdeka one.

  • Mamee Chef Bundle Sarawak Laksa 90g x 4 (RM4.99) — genuinely good, and the easiest entry point

  • Laksa Leaf (Daun Kesum) Malaysia 25g (RM0.80)

  • Santan, prawns, shredded chicken, beansprouts, egg strips, lime

  • HKC or Cap Lembu Sarawak Pepper to finish — a Sarawak dish deserves Sarawak pepper

Also from Sarawak: Dried Sarawak Kolo Mee 340g (RM7.20) if you want a second East Malaysian dish with almost no effort.

5. Kuih, kaya toast and teh — the afternoon

Source: Foodpanda Malaysia

The one-trolley Malaysia Day shopping list

Everything above, in one list. Screenshot this.

Fresh

Pantry

  • Sunwhite Beras Wangi 5kg — RM30.99

  • UC Fresh Santan 250g — RM3.30

  • Ayam Brand Coconut Milk 200ml — RM4.20

  • Ikan Bilis Kopek Langkawi 200g — RM16.15

  • Adabi Sambal Tumis Ikan Bilis 60g — RM2.50

  • Babas Meat Curry Powder 250g — RM6.70

  • Babas Chilli Powder 250g — RM8.20

  • Tean’s Rendang Dry Curry Paste 200g — RM6.90

  • Kipas Udang Kicap Lemak Masin 645ml — RM9.50

  • HKC Sarawak Pepper Powder 500g — RM13.40

  • Madam Yap Gula Melaka Filtered 500g — RM11.00

  • Mamee Chef Sarawak Laksa 90g x 4 — RM4.99

  • Roasted peanuts

Tea, sweet and snacks

  • Boh Cameron Highlands Tea Leaves 250g — RM7.40

  • Sabah Tea Pot Bags 40s — RM6.20

  • Yeo’s Seri Kaya 480g — RM8.29

  • Julie’s Peanut Butter Sandwich 360g — RM11.50

  • Munchy’s Funmix Assorted 500g — RM7.99

  • Milo Softpack 900g — RM23.20

Making a mid-week holiday easy


Malaysia Day 2026 lands on a Wednesday. You will be working on Tuesday, hosting on Wednesday, and back at your desk on Thursday. Plan around that rather than fighting it.

Order Monday, cook Wednesday. Place the order at jayagrocer.com on Monday 14 or Tuesday 15 September for delivery the evening before. Delivery and pickup cover Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, Cyberjaya and Penang.

Use GrabMart for the things you forget. Because you will forget the limes, or the santan, or both. Same-day delivery is what it is for.

Prep on Tuesday night. Rendang is better the next day. Sambal is better the next day. Soak the rice, blend the paste, fry the ikan bilis. Wednesday should be assembly, not cooking.

Cook one dish properly, not five badly. A brilliant nasi lemak and a good pot of tea beats five rushed dishes and a stressed host. Nobody has ever complained about a table with fewer dishes on it.

Malaysia Day 2026 FAQ

  • When is Malaysia Day 2026?

    • Malaysia Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, 16 September. It is a nationwide public holiday.

  • What is the difference between Malaysia Day and Merdeka Day?

    • Merdeka Day on 31 August marks the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British rule in 1957. Malaysia Day on 16 September marks the formation of Malaysia in 1963, when Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined together. Singapore separated in 1965.

  • Why is Malaysia Day celebrated on 16 September?

    • Because Malaysia was formally established on 16 September 1963. It became a nationwide public holiday in 2010; before that it was observed mainly in Sabah and Sarawak.

  • What food is eaten on Malaysia Day?

    • There is no single traditional dish. Most families cook a spread that reflects the country — nasi lemak, ayam masak merah, rendang, laksa, kuih and teh. A Malaysia Day table ideally includes an East Malaysian dish such as Sarawak laksa or kolo mee.

  • What are some well-known Malaysian food brands?

    • Boh tea from Cameron Highlands, Sabah Tea from Ranau, Adabi and Babas spices, Tean’s Gourmet Nyonya pastes, Cap Kipas Udang kicap from Johor, Munchy’s from Batu Pahat, Julie’s from Melaka, Ayamas poultry, Mamee, Milo made in Petaling Jaya, and Sarawak pepper.

  • Is Malaysia Day a public holiday in all states?

    • Yes. Malaysia Day has been a federal public holiday across all states and federal territories since 2010.


Shop Malaysian-made

Malaysia Day is Wednesday, 16 September. The best way to mark it is to cook something, and to buy it from the people who have been making it here all along.

Shop Malaysian-made at jayagrocer.com →

Order by Monday 14 September for delivery before the holiday. Selamat Hari Malaysia!