Entree Kibbles: Yong Sheng Gift Shop Flagship Store (荣成礼坊旗舰店) - Local Food Souvenirs @ Muar in Johore [Malaysia]

What's an organized day tour without a trip to a food souvenir shop where we can grab some local mementos for home?! The one identified for our day tour to Malaysia's batu pahat and muar was Yong Sheng Gift Shop Flagship Store!

Located on the ground floor, it appeared to be the place where local Chinese would buy wedding pastries! There are a lot of customs for the ethnic Chinese when it comes to marriage (and festivals) and food plays an important role with items having certain auspicious meanings.

My focus was obviously on the wide array of food products! It's not incredibly large but for food; quality counts more than quantity / variety.

p.s. the store was crowded because of our tour. According to our guide, Yong Sheng is the most reputable one in Muar. Maybe a local Muar resident can let me know if it is true.

Whatever the case, I am always skeptical when it comes to buying snacks and pastries. Key concern; how to buy when I don't even know how it tastes like?! Sampling to the rescue!

As there were so many of us, the samples ran out quickly and I had to ask them to open up more packs so that I can also try! Unlike some of the negative reviews I read online on Google, the staff members were friendly and more than willing to open a new pack for me to sample.

Sadly, there were no coffee samples. I love coffee and at the moment, my taste buds were only agreeable with Old Town White Coffee and G7 Vietnamese Coffee. Always good to have an alternative and I wouldn't buy a whole pack just to 'try'. Sampling is the way to go to get me to buy!

I am known among my friends for not being a potato lover; preferring sweet potato fries to French fries. However, I decided to purchase the potato sticks (came in three flavors; salted, hot and spicy, and honey butter) as my friends were fans of the original Calbee brand.

Box of biscuits was incredibly cheap; like only S$3.00-S$4.00 each. Despite the attractive pricing, I stopped myself from buying as I have a high tendency to just throw away / leave them to expire if they turn out to be bad tasting.

You know Muar is famous for what? Their otak and you can choose from either prawn or fish! It differs from our Singapore version; substantially meatier and with pieces of fish meat within.

No sample; didn't even consider.

Samples included the 潮州白劳饼 which was like a larger piece of wife biscuit with thick filling. It's more satisfying like your typical wife biscuit and given that Yong Sheng is famous for this; I bought a few at RM12.50 apiece.

Another sample item; the almond crispy pie. I bake my own tarts during lunar new years and while pineapple tarts were popular, the almond cookies had their group of loyal fans. This almond crispy pie had about the same texture as my almond cookies, albeit in bigger portion. RM 18.80 for a box of 8 (or 10) pieces.

You may even consider a hamper! Do note that Singapore government imposes GST for goods purchased overseas and for trips spent less than 48 hours, relief only applies for items that cost, in total, S$100 or less.