Tropical Spice Garden @ Penang

Been to Penang a few times but never comes to my mind to visit Tropical Spice Garden. The enchanting Tropical Spice Garden is an eco sanctuary tucked within a natural valley fronting Straits of Malacca. It is a privately funded agro-tourism project endorsed by the Penang State Government.

Spread across 8 acres of secondary jungle, the landscaped area of 6 acres is a treasure trove of more than 500 living specimens of lush and exotic flora from around the world.

 

The Penang’s award-winning Tropical Spice Garden provides 2 different types of tours to cater different needs:

1. Live guided tour 

• TSG provides well trained, experienced and specialist guides
• They have in-depth knowledge of the plants and layout of TSG
• Allows you direct answers to any query which you may have
• Guided tour times:
  9am/11.30am/ 1.30pm/ 3.30pm
• Languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, Arabic

2. Garden audio tour

• Self-guided tour with audio devices in seven languages (English, Arabic, Mandarin, Japanese, Malay, German, French); providing interesting facts and history on the wide variety of plants in the garden
• Audio devices included in the entrance fee
• Inclusive of a garden map
• Information and direction signage helps navigate through the gardens
• Express tour is also available (45 minutes) focusing on the key highlights

 

 Don't you find it familiar? It's called daun kadok/ Piper sarmentosum.

 

 

Next, can you differentiate citronella (serai wangi) and lemongrass (serai makan) from pictures above?

 

 

Well, the tour guide taught us to differentiate it. The leaf of lemongrass looks slimmer and smells stronger besides the plant shorter than citronella.

 

 

Finally I saw this -ulam raja! One of my friend is using this plant for her phD project on diabetes patients!  I heard she even planted it for her patients' supply every week. Hence, out of curiousity, I pluck a leaf and tastes it. For my opinion, it doesn't taste bad for eating raw.

 

Another interesting plant is stevia.  I guess some of you have heard of it as I saw US commercialize it and sell as sugar replacer. I have seen this few years back when paying a visit to National Botanical Park Shah Alam. Nevertheless, bit different this time, the tour guide does not allow me to pluck it for tasting. LOL as he said that's the only stevia they have xoxo

 

Nutmeg

 

It smells nice but I don't like to eat it.

 

 Spices usually utilized in cooking by local...

The only cinnamon tree in Tropical Spice Garden is gated for protection.

 

 

It's not only a garden of discovery but also a relaxing spot. There is a little pond of fish spa for visitors. After tired of walking, you can just dip your feet into the water. Above all, no extra charge incurred.

Red bark tree -used for dying

 

Some interesting things found along the way even though the guide did not explain. One of it is the board written Tsunami Memorial. This piece of driftwood beached on Teluk Bahang bay in front of the garden is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives during the tsunami disaster.

 

Admission fees:
Garden Audio Tour 
Adult: RM26
Senior Citizens (60 years old and above): RM20
Children (5 – 12 years old): RM15
Students: RM20

Live Guided Tour
Adult: RM35
Senior Citizens (60 years old and above): RM28
Children (5 – 12 years old): RM20
Students: RM28

Visiting hours: 9am – 6pm daily. Last admission is at 5.15pm. 

Additional facilities:
Venue hire for weddings, private functions, meetings & team building
Gift shop
TSG cooking school
Nature Education Programs
Slides & Ladders 3D Board Game
Tree Monkey Restaurant
Night Walks (every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, 2 hours tour)



Address:
Tropical Spice Garden
Add: Lone Crag Villa, 
Lot 595 Mukim 2, 
Jalan Teluk Bahang, 
11050 Penang, Malaysia.
Web: www.tropicalspicegarden.com