Chop Chuan Guan Bakery

Chop Chuan Guan Bakery in Nibong Tebal, Penang

It smelt soooooo good as we entered the shop. Peanuts! I did not expect to see a small bakery going on at the side and back of the shop. So that was my bonus as I LOVE to watch the experts doing what they do best. Had a good chat with Mr Khor who is the 5th generation running this bakery. This bakery has been around for 150 YEARS!!! He explained to us about the peanut bars that he was making at the time with sugar, rice syrup, flour, peanuts, and sesame seeds. I think they call this snack Ak-Am. Funny name!

It is a good 3.5 hours drive from PJ to Nibong Tebal but it was always worth the long drive.

Heong Peah

The making of Ak-Am Peanut Candy

Ak-Am in Teochew means Duck Neck. So this is known as Duck Neck Peanut Candy. No duck meat in this candy though!

Ak-Am is made of sugar, rice syrup, flour, peanuts and covered with sesame seeds. 

1) Sugar, syrup, and some "secret spices" and stirred in pot for 5 hours.

2) When the concoction turns into thick glue, it is poured on top of a table covered with sesame seeds to be cooled off. Takes about an hour to cool.

3) Then it is flattened. Filled it with peanut mixture, roll it and cut.

After the candy is cut into long rolls, they did look like cooked duck necks!

These are the peanut bars for the Ak-am

That chocolate gooey piece is made of syrup, sugar, flour and spices, stirred for 5 hours in a giant pot.

Mr Khor at work!

When the peanut bars are all nicely wrapped, they have to be cut in small bars for easier packing.

That's a long ruler!