This article is part of my 2019 Cameron Highlands trip series.
There is no shortage of dining options in Cameron Highlands. Beyond Tanah Rata and Brinchang, one of the more popular restaurants is Water Cress Valley (西洋菜谷). This eatery near Tringkap is a vegetable farm itself. As the name implies, the farm grows watercress exclusively.
The restaurant commands a nice view of the watercress farm in the valley below. Thanks to the great location, the dining area receives cooling breeze that seems to blow perpetually.
To overcome the cold weather in Cameron Highlands, many people enjoy steamboat in Cameron Highlands. In fact, Water Cress Valley serves steamboat that is heated by charcoal. The soup contains Chinese herbs like cordyceps (虫草) and scented Solomon’s seal (玉竹). Vegetarian options are available too.
The steamboat set meal for 2 persons costs RM64.00. As expected, many food items revolve around watercress. Furthermore, there is a tea bag of watercress that serves to flavor the soup. The tea bag costs RM5.00 and is not part of the set meal.
While waiting for the soup to boil, enjoy some pickled chayote (佛手瓜干) for RM4.00. The restaurant also sells watercress-based herbal drinks for RM5.00 each.
After our meal, we descended into the valley to get a closer look at the watercress farm. Admission to the farm is RM1.00 per person, but this fee is waived for restaurant customers.
Watercress is an aquatic plant with hollow stems, which allows it to float on water. Wild watercress is usually found along rivers. At Water Cress Valley, watercress is hydroponically cultivated in terraced ponds. The ponds are irrigated by a continuous flow of water.
Overall, the food at Water Cress Valley is fairly tasty and fresh. Nevertheless, I think the main appeal lies in the nice scenery that the restaurant offers. Water Cress Valley also serves stir-fried (煮炒) Chinese dishes, but we do not have the stomach capacity to taste any dishes this round.
