In the heart of Johor Baru’s historic downtown, the air along Jalan Dhoby carries a distinct, nostalgic aroma, a blend of charred rubberwood and caramelising bananas.
The aroma permeates from Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory, a bakery established in 1919 that has become one of the city’s heritage attractions, drawing visitors from across Malaysia as well as Singapore, and even China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.
While the world outside has traded traditional hearths for electric convection ovens, Hiap Joo remains anchored by a century-old wood-fired oven.
This brick-and-stone behemoth, along with family recipes guarded through three generations, has transformed the family business of more than a century into a global heritage destination.
Founded shortly after the First World War by seven Hainanese immigrants, the bakery is today run by 38-year-old manager Joseph Lim Toh Hui and his elder brother, whose grandfather was among the founders.
“During the Second World War, the other shareholders did not return to take over the business, so my grandfather continued running it by himself. Since then, it has remained in our family,” he told Bernama recently.
Lim recalled growing up at the bakery and watching his grandfather knead dough by hand on a heavy wooden table before he eventually learned the trade himself.
Read Full Article At Source
