Tea, Strawberries & Scones: A Culinary Journey Through Cameron Highlands

My love affair with the Cameron Highlands began at the sprawling BOH Tea Plantation, Malaysia's largest tea producer. The drive alone is worth the journey—winding roads cutting through a sea of perfectly manicured tea bushes that seem to flow like green waves across the hillsides.

The BOH Tea Centre offers a fascinating glimpse into the art of tea production. I spent a mesmerizing morning watching nimble-fingered workers demonstrate the traditional 'two leaves and a bud' picking technique that ensures only the finest tea leaves make it into your cup. The factory tour reveals every step of the process, from withering and rolling to fermentation and drying.

But the true highlight awaits at the plantation café, where floor-to-ceiling windows frame panoramic views of the tea-covered hills. Here, I recommend splurging on their premium tea flight—a tasting selection of their finest varieties served in proper English fashion. Pair it with their signature tea-infused cake for the full experience.

For tea aficionados wanting to take the experience home, I found the perfect tea infuser bottle allows you to cold-brew BOH tea overnight in your hotel room fridge for a refreshing morning drink before heading out for the day's adventures.

The Cameron Highlands' cool climate creates the perfect environment for strawberries to thrive year-round—a rarity in tropical Malaysia. I've visited countless strawberry farms here, but Big Red Strawberry Farm remains my favorite for its balance of authenticity and visitor-friendly amenities.

Unlike the more commercialized farms, Big Red allows visitors to pick their own berries (a delightful activity for couples), and their café serves everything strawberry imaginable. I'm particularly fond of their fresh strawberry pavlova—a perfect balance of sweet meringue, fresh cream, and tart berries that showcases the fruit's natural flavor.

For something uniquely Malaysian, seek out the region's strawberry-infused cendol, a traditional iced dessert where the sweet local berries replace the usual palm sugar syrup—a refreshing fusion that works surprisingly well.

Just down the road, Cameron's honey gardens offer another sweet diversion. The highlands' unique flora creates honey with distinctive flavor profiles you won't find elsewhere. I always pack my collapsible silicone food containers to bring home small portions of different honey varieties without worrying about leakage in my luggage.

The British colonial influence lingers deliciously in Cameron Highlands' tea room culture. Tucked away on a quiet street in Tanah Rata, I discovered The Lord's Café—my absolute favorite spot for authentic cream tea. Their freshly baked scones arrive warm, accompanied by house-made strawberry jam and proper clotted cream that would make any English grandmother proud.

For something with more historical gravitas, the Jim Thompson Tea Room at Cameron Highlands Resort offers afternoon tea with all the traditional trimmings. The property's colonial architecture and manicured gardens transport you straight to England, despite being in the heart of Malaysia. Their multi-tiered afternoon tea stand features both British classics and Malaysian-inspired treats—don't miss the curry puffs and pandan-infused pastries that blend both culinary traditions beautifully.

If you're planning to indulge in multiple tea experiences (as you absolutely should), I recommend bringing a small travel tea journal to record your favorites. I've filled three of these during my Cameron visits, noting subtle differences between estates and seasons that have made me a more discerning tea drinker.

For those wanting to recreate the experience at home, most tea rooms sell their house blends. I particularly recommend the Cameron Valley Tea House's special highland breakfast blend—robust enough for morning but smooth enough for afternoon sipping.

The cool climate that makes Cameron Highlands perfect for tea and strawberries also creates ideal conditions for growing vegetables rarely seen elsewhere in Malaysia. The region supplies much of the country with temperate produce, and exploring the local markets became one of my unexpected highlights.

Kea Farm Market, the largest in the area, sprawls across the hillside with dozens of stalls selling just-harvested vegetables at prices that would make any city dweller jealous. The local Cameron Highland cabbage is particularly renowned—sweeter and more tender than varieties I've found elsewhere.

But the true culinary treasure hunt is for the region's specialty: highland mushrooms. From familiar button varieties to exotic shimeji and king oyster mushrooms, the fungus selection is extraordinary. I've spent mornings chatting with farmers who grow these delicacies in climate-controlled huts dotted throughout the highlands.

Many restaurants in the area showcase these fresh ingredients, but for a truly special experience, I recommend Gonbei at Cameron Highlands Resort, where Japanese culinary techniques highlight the exceptional quality of local produce. Their mushroom hotpot, featuring five varieties of locally grown mushrooms, is worth the splurge.

If you're staying somewhere with kitchen facilities, invest in a good collapsible produce basket to carry your market finds. I use mine to collect vegetables for impromptu picnics on scenic overlooks—there's nothing quite like enjoying a simple meal of fresh bread, local cheese, and crisp highland vegetables while overlooking the tea plantations.

While Malaysia isn't traditionally known for chocolate production, Cameron Highlands has developed a delightful chocolate scene that makes for a perfect dessert stop on your culinary tour. Several small-batch chocolatiers have set up shop here, creating unique bars infused with local flavors.

My personal favorite is Chocolate Château, a charming little factory where you can watch the chocolate-making process before indulging in a tasting session. Their tea-infused dark chocolate combines two of the region's specialties in one exquisite bite, while their strawberry white chocolate actually uses freeze-dried local berries for authentic flavor.

For honey enthusiasts, Cameron Highlands offers unique tasting opportunities at places like the Ee Feng Gu Honey Bee Farm. The different elevation zones within the highlands create distinct honey varieties with fascinating flavor profiles. I was particularly impressed by their rare wild highland honey—darker and more complex than commercial varieties, with notes of the mountain flowers that bloom throughout the region.

To preserve these sweet souvenirs properly on your journey home, I recommend using a insulated food thermos to protect chocolate from Malaysia's heat once you descend from the highlands. I learned this lesson the hard way after watching my carefully selected chocolate bars transform into an unrecognizable (though still delicious) puddle during my first visit!

For a truly memorable experience, book the chocolate and honey pairing session at Cameron Highlands Resort, where a knowledgeable guide will walk you through complementary flavor combinations that highlight the best of both worlds.