5 Grocery Items from Batam Every Malaysian Must Bring Home
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
While shopping for souvenirs in Batam, don’t skip the humble grocery store!
Sure, Nagoya Hill will always remain a haven for fridge magnets and Indonesian batik. But if you venture into a hypermarket or supermarket, you’ll discover edible souvenirs that are cheaper, practical, and yet still uniquely Indonesian.
Let’s take a look at 5 items from any grocery store in Batam that are either exclusive to Indonesia or - at least - much more expensive in Malaysia!
1. Sambal pouch & Bumbu sachet - The perfect budget gifts
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
Indonesian nasi goreng is next-level delicious, and the secret behind the sedap lies in the seasoning (bumbu) and sambal. While most warong sambal is homemade, you can buy packaged sambal and bumbu in supermarkets… and they are just as delicious!
They come in different varieties such as:
- Sambal Terasi
- Sambal Rendang
- Sambal Geprek
- Bumbu Kacang
- Bumbu Nasi Goreng
- BonCabe Sambal Tabur
With so many options (and spice levels!), you’ll have to try quite a few before deciding which your favourites are.
This is where the beauty of pouches and sachets come in. Costing as little as RM0.20 - RM0.60 each, these single-serve packets are great for taste-testing. On top of that, they also make terrific budget gifts that are unique and practical.
Souvenir tip: Bundle 10 or 20 different packets for an affordable and memorable gift!
2. Larutan Penyegar (Cooling water) - Best after a day in sunny Batam!
Photo Source : Super TOP Pare
Just to address the Rhino in the room, yes - we have cooling water in Malaysia as well. However, Indonesians take their love of larutan penyegar to the next level with a multitude of fruity flavours that you can’t find back home.
Grocery and convenience stores in Batam typically carry flavours like:
- Jeruk (Orange)
- Strawberry
- Grape
- Melon
- Passionfruit
- Apple
The most popular brands are Cap Kaki Tiga and Cap Badak, which offer welcome relief after a long day in the sun at Batam’s beaches and outdoor attractions.
Another unique factor that sets larutan penyegar apart from their Malaysian counterpart is that they’re sold in cans. There’s nothing like the feel of a cold can of fruity cooling water straight from the fridge!
Fun Fact: Cooling water contains gypsum fibrosum, a mineral compound. It’s used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to alleviate “heatiness” symptoms like ulcers, heat rash, and fevers.
3. Tolak Angin - Indonesia’s herbal cure-all
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
Tolak Angin is a household name in Indonesia. These yellow pouches of herbal goodness are used to remedy stomach aches, flatulence, headaches, nausea, and more.
Years back, it wasn’t uncommon for Malaysians to bring back boxes of Tolak Angin because it wasn’t widely available. Nowadays, you might find them in certain pharmacies but at much higher prices.
With its popularity, Tolak Angin is super easy to find in Batam. Not just that, you’ll also find a whole range of Tolak Angin products, including:
- Tolak Linu (for joint pain)
- Tolak Angin Sugar Free
- Tolak Angin Anak (for kids)
- Tolak Angin Care (Ointment)
Travel tip: Many Indonesians take Tolak Angin before travelling to prevent motion sickness.
4. Medicated oils and balms - with a twist!
Photo Source : instagram.com/@freshcareidn
Malaysians are no strangers to medicated oils, better known as minyak angin. A bottle of Cap Kapak, Tiger Balm, or Minyak Gamat are found in every home just in case there’s a headache or stuffy nose.
Indonesians also take their minyak angin seriously, with their own traditional formulations and ingredients. They also take it up a notch with some unique innovations like aromatic minyak angin. This increases relaxation and prevents you from smelling like… well, minyak angin.
Another is roll-on minyak angin. As the name suggests, you use it like a deodorant, which leaves your hands clean. For those of you who love the smell of minyak angin, some have an inhaler attachment as well!
Shopping tip: Ask the storekeeper or attendant for recommendations - they always have a favourite!
5. Instant noodles - Mie Goreng and more!
Photo Source : detik.com/jatim/bisnis
It goes without saying that Indonesia is the land of mie goreng. The best brands you find in Malaysian supermarkets hail from Indonesia, like Indomie and Mie Sedaap.
If you think there are a lot of choices in Malaysian supermarkets, you NEED to walk into a supermarket in Batam. There are multiple aisles dedicated to instant noodles - from packs, to cups, to box sets with real meat!
You’ll also find special flavours that are unique to the region such as cakalang, a cured skipjack tuna that’s a delicacy in North Sulawesi.
Mind you, this is only for mie goreng. There are also soup-based instant noodles, which is a whole other catalogue in itself.
Packing tip: Instant noodles take up space. Ask your ferry operator at Berjaya Waterfront about weight and baggage limits so you don’t end up with surprise excess baggage charges!
Where to find grocery stores and supermarkets in Batam?
If you’re staying in the city centre, you won’t have to look far. Most neighbourhoods have a supermarket or minimart within walking distance.
Some well-known chains in Batam include:
- Hypermart
- Alfamart
- Indomaret
- Grand Lucky
…Or you can just head to Nagoya Hill as a starting point!
To quickly and conveniently book a ferry trip to Batam, look no further than Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal in Johor Bahru. With fully air-conditioned and spacious high-speed ferries, it’s your first step to experience all that Batam has to offer. Click here to check ferry schedules and book your tickets!
For tips on how to get around in Batam, click here for our tips and tricks on travelling in Batam as a tourist.