Dr. Ho Kai Cheong began his business by selling tea from a bicycle to help laborers during the Japanese Occupation.
The tea formula is a unique blend of 28 traditional Chinese herbs.
The museum building was once the actual family home and business premises of the Ho family.
The brand survived the transition from loose-leaf medicine to modern teabag manufacturing in the 1970s.
The museum features a scale model of the original shop's layout from the 1940s.
Ho Yan Hor is widely credited as one of the first herbal tea brands in Malaysia to adopt standardized manufacturing techniques.
The Ho Yan Hor Museum chronicles the history of a renowned herbal tea brand founded by Dr. Ho Kai Cheong in 1941. Housed in a conserved pre-war shophouse in Ipoh's Old Town, the museum showcases the evolution of the brand from a roadside peddler's cart to a globally recognized wellness product. Visitors walk through the original shop where Dr. Ho first formulated his medicinal tea blends for locals suffering from tropical ailments. The exhibit displays vintage equipment, historical photographs, and pharmaceutical memorabilia that highlight mid-20th-century life in Malaya. It serves as an educational hub for both the brand's heritage and the cultural history of the tin mining era in Perak. The museum space is preserved to retain the architectural aesthetic of the 1940s, including original timber floorings and window shutters. Guests often conclude their tour with a complimentary tasting of the signature herbal tea blends. The facility is managed by the Ho Yan Hor company to preserve family history and traditional medicinal practices.
The restored storefront featuring the original, hand-painted wooden signage.
Ask the docents about the specific medicinal properties of the various herbs on display.
Take advantage of the free tea tasting session included with your visit.
Visit the small gift shop to purchase historical tea canisters or modern variants not found in standard supermarkets.
Do not mistake the museum for a standard retail shop; expect to dedicate time to reading the historical placards.
Closed on Mondays.
Maintain a quiet volume as the space is compact; avoid touching historical artifacts unless indicated.
