Third-generation Kepala Batas spice shop still keeps kitchens fragrant

2026-03-17 - 00:14

Shahul Hameed Siddiq Mohamad continues his family legacy by preserving the same recipes and spice blends that have kept customers coming back year after year. (Bernama pic) SEBERANG PERAI: Step into a modest shop in the old town of Kepala Batas here and you will know immediately where you are. The warm fragrance of freshly ground spices drifts out the door, instantly bringing to mind home kitchens and dishes simmering slowly on the stove. For more than four decades, that aroma has drawn loyal customers to Kedai Rempah Shahul Hameed, a family-run spice shop now in its third generation. Owner Shahul Hameed Siddiq Mohamad, 44, inherited the business from his father and grandfather, who opened the shop in the 1970s. Today, he continues the family legacy by preserving the same recipes and spice blends that have kept customers coming back year after year. “This is a third-generation business. My grandfather started it, then my father continued it, and now I am carrying on the legacy,” he told Bernama. “Our uniqueness lies in the spice blends themselves. The recipes have been passed down through the family and have become the identity of this shop.” Many of the raw ingredients – including cumin, fennel seeds, poppy seeds and garam masala – are sourced directly from India before being blended in-store according to the family’s carefully guarded measurements. Today, the shop offers around 40 types of spice blends, catering to everything from everyday cooking to festive favourites. Among the most popular are blends for fish curry, meat curry, fried chicken and onion chicken, alongside speciality mixes for nasi Arab, mandy and beriani. There are also spice mixes for street-food staples such as martabak, roti john, nasi daging and bubur kanji – ingredients that become especially sought after during Ramadan. During the fasting month, Shahul Hameed said the shop can sell up to 150kg of spices daily, with customers travelling not only from across Penang but other states as well. The shop also offers ingredients for traditional beverages, including a special “akar sarbat” blend. And despite using imported ingredients, Shahul Hameed keeps prices affordable so customers from all walks of life can enjoy them. “The cheapest ready-mixed spice is RM3 for 120g, and customers can buy according to their needs – from small packets to up to 1kg,” he said. Shahul Hameed also likes sharing cooking tips with customers – who range from homemakers and home cooks to caterers and nasi kandar traders – suggesting recipes and preparation methods to help them get the best flavours from the blends they buy.