Satay? Okay!

What does an American missionary have to do with Hainanese Chicken Rice in Malaysia? More than you ever thought possible. In this season finale, we follow Malaysia's story up to the beginning of the 20th Century. The full occupation of the Malay peninsular is in Britain's sight. Spurious contracts, military force and secret conventions render the Malay rulers powerless. At the same time, war is br...

There's no whisky in a Malaysian toddy. That's because toddy in Malaysia refers to the kombucha-like coconut drink. Toddy is sugary, sour and a bit funky. But like so many of Malaysia's foods, the sweet taste obscures a very dark origin. In the 19th Century, the British East India Company continued its campaign to control the Malay peninsular. Powering this new empire, however, required a substant...

Tried laksa with spaghetti? Or sour tamarind laksa? Laksa comes in many forms, but a classic Nyonya laksa has captured global hearts more than others. Its a dish that's central to the Chinese Peranakan community - a community that found unusual favour in Britain-controlled Malaya. As the 18th Century rolled on, the Malay world faced growing European pressure, especially with the rise of the Britis...

Kueh defies classification. Even kueh experts can't land on a definition. Perhaps that's because kueh has influences from around the world, notably from European colonisers. After the invasion of Melaka by the Portuguese armada, much of South East Asia faced the firm grip of colonialism. By the 17th Century, the Dutch VOC empire had invaded parts of Indonesia in a violent pursuit to control spice...

If Malaysia has a national condiment, it would be sambal. Yet as central as sambal is to Malaysia's culinary heritage, it wouldn't exist without Portugal. As Melaka's fortunes grew, the empire attracted the envy of Europe. By the 16th Century, Portuguese merchants began trading with Melaka, introducing new products like chillis and tomatoes. But this trade partnership wasn't enough and Portuguese...

Would you sacrifice an ox for the sake of cinnamon? Spices were once the global currency, sometimes worth more than gold. Myths around spices kept the prices high, fuelling spice empires around the world, including in Melaka. Modern Malaysia traces its origins to the dawn of the 15th Century. After the fall of Srivijaya, Melaka emerged as a fierce trade empire, connecting lucrative markets in Indi...

Do you know Bella Chan? Fishing traditions gave rise to one of Malaysia's most important ingredients - belacan. Beyond cuisine though, belacan tells us a lot about Malaysia's seafaring history. 1,500 years ago, sea trading in South East Asia began to boom and from the spoils, the world's greatest maritime empire emerged - Srivijaya. Centred on the island of Sumatra, Srivijaya dominated trade in th...

Can coconuts really travel along ocean currents? Maybe, but that's probably not how they spread around the world. We look at coconuts and Malaysia's ancient maritime history. The Malay and Indonesian archipelagos contain some 25,000 islands, home to communities that were once much more connected. These are the lands of Nusantara, a common ancestor of many South East Asian cultures. We hear from fo...

There's no such thing as Malaysian cuisine! In the very first episode, we shatter the myths surrounding Malaysia and its diverse food culture. Kicking things off with satay, we look at the mysterious origins of this classic Malaysian dish. It's a story that tells us a lot about what people know, and think they know, about Malaysia. Hear from food writer and cultural custodian Kalsom Taib, who is o...

Is durian really that controversial? Pop culture will have you believe that durian is equal parts maligned and celebrated. But there's so much more to the King of Fruits than its smell. We take a look at durian and it's connection to the ancient lands of Malaysia. Along the way, we meet a community that many Malaysians don't even know exist - the indigenous Orang Asli peoples. We hear from Emily W...

Launching on 24 SEP! Join hosts Dr Noby Leong and Philip Gibson as they explore Malaysia’s most iconic foods and how they’ve been shaped by the past. They’ll be joined by food writers, chefs, academics and community leaders, who will share their perspectives on one of the world’s most misunderstood cuisines.