It’s rather odd how the Straits of Penang dichotomised the whole region up there into a mainly Hokkien-Fujianese Penang island, and a Teochew-Chaozhou Mainland Penang. The Hokkiens prefer stronger flavours than the Teochews, so almost everything would taste lighter and blander on Mainland Penang, and its surrounding areas, including the neighbouing states of Kedah and Perak. Northern Perak’s major town, Taiping, has the same food culture as Penang, but also has a majority Teochew influence, hence its food also tastes pretty bland to anyone from Penang, or Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur (both mainly Cantonese).
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