Horse Hoof Biscuits 马啼酥
During my recent trip to Malaysia after our huge Bah Kut Teh breakfast in Kota Tinggi, Kev and I set off for our next destination… Malacca.
Walking down Jonker Street, we couldn’t help but notice this shop with a wide display of biscuits with various fillings. We were tempted but stuck to the choice of old fashioned Horse Hoof Biscuits or better known locally as Beh Teh Soh (马啼酥).

The biscuits are covered with a huge plastic sheet as there were many houseflies, said the lady but I didn’t see any luckily or I would not have bought any.
The reason they are called Horse Hoof Biscuits was that bakers used to cook these by sticking them to the side of a clay oven like a tandoor. As a result, the biscuits were thicker on one end and resembles a horse hoof.
Tian Hup Seng Biscuit Co.
Shop 93/95, Jalan Hang Jebat,
75200 Melaka.
Malaysia.
Tel:+6012 6703123
See the making of Beh Teh Soh from 3rd generation Hokkien baker in Singapore below (in Mandarin, sorry). The bakers have at least 30 years experience in this field and the biscuits are handmade. Tan Hock Seng has been in Singapore for around 70 years.
P.S. Singaporean readers – If you don’t have time to go to Malacca, you can get fresh daily oven-baked ones from Tan Hock Seng at 86, Telok Ayer Street, Singapore.
Tan Hock Seng
86 Telok Ayer Street,
Singapore 048469.
Tel: +65 65331798
Mon – Sat: 9am to 7.30pm
Sun: 12pm to 4pm
They look at first glance like Eccles Cakes to me, but they sound even better.
They will taste even better than Eccles, believe me… but only if you have sweet tooth 😉
I need to figure out how to find some in New Zealand now. I’m hoping some Malaysian place somewhere makes something like this, but for now Google just wants to tell me about treats for horses. This will be a fun little treasure hunt though.
You may find them in Asian grocers like I found mine when in Melbourne. They are usually branded as Beh Teh Soh or 马啼酥. Google using the last two names and you will find it. For images click here https://www.google.com.sg/search?q=beh+teh+soh+recipe&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=OZOBUaD-I4i4rAeVh4HoBg&ved=0CFkQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=643
As always, you continue to surprise and delight with your DELISH posts…Thanks Sam!
Thanks, Jamy 😀 Hope you had a great May Day (Labour Day) yesterday. Don’t know if we share the same public holidays…
We don’t have a specific public holiday for it, but it still holds significance just the same. And you’re ahead of me! 😀 It’s still May Day here…:)
Enjoy your day 😀
May Day here just ended. Seattle had a bunch of protesters and police facing off in downtown. Glad I missed it. Nice pics, love the name ‘Horse Hoof biscuit’. Have a nice trip.
Just read about it after your comment. Take care Laura.
Hi Sam , thank you for reading my post.(Dreams..) Blessings.Jalal
i have a lot of fond memories of Malacca, even though i don’t have your eye for finding great food. on the road to Malacca from Singapore they had many of the beautiful old style Malay houses that i like.
I’m glad these aren’t actually made of horse hooves! That would be gross. Hope I get to try one one day…
They are absolutely delicious! And yes, luckily they aren’t hooves, dowana be kicked by the horses, lol…
haha! definitely not! i’ll have to try them someday…
Sheeesh ! That is so yummy. Pity I can’t have any of these biscuits. I wonder if there are any ethnic bakeries in my neck of the woods. Well, there’s a Russian one. Russians make good baked products too.
Think you can find them in Asian grocers.
I’m taking notes of these treats for when I am in Malaysia again. Holy heck how did I miss these!