Guide · updated September 2026
How to get Sarawak laksa paste in Switzerland
If you grew up with Sarawak laksa, you know the paste is the whole dish. In Switzerland it is hard to find. Here are your options, what customs allows, and how to have someone bring a jar from home.
Why it's hard to find
Sarawak laksa paste is a regional product, sold mostly in Malaysia. Shops in Europe tend to carry the pastes more people know, so a jar of Sarawak paste is rarely on the shelf.
Try Asian grocers first
Asian grocers in Zurich, Geneva and Basel sometimes have it, or can order it. Stock changes, so call or message before you go. Ask for the brand by name, and ask whether they can add it to their next order.
If a shop says no, that is where a traveller helps.
Check the label before anyone buys it
Swiss rules for food in your luggage, in short:
- Meat and dairy products from outside the EU are generally not allowed. Many pastes and snacks contain them, so read the ingredients (BLV).
- Fish products are allowed up to 20 kg per person.
- If the goods you bring total more than CHF 150, VAT applies (BAZG).
Some laksa pastes contain shrimp paste (belacan) or dried shrimp. We have not confirmed how Swiss customs treats these. If the label lists shrimp, ask the BLV before you buy, or pick a brand without it.
Rules change. Check the official pages above before each trip.
Ask a traveller to bring it
Lots of people fly between Malaysia and Switzerland, especially around Christmas and Chinese New Year. On Hashiruu you post what you need and what you'll pay. Someone already on that route buys it new in a shop and brings it.
- 1. Post your request. Name the brand, jar size and how many. Say where it can be bought, for example a supermarket in Kuching or KL.
- 2. A traveller makes an offer. You can also send your request to someone who has posted a trip from Malaysia.
- 3. Pay into escrow. You pay when you hire. The traveller only shops once the payment is in.
- 4. Get your jar, then confirm. The traveller is paid when you confirm. If something goes wrong, open a dispute and the money is frozen.
Price example
You agree CHF 30 with the traveller, for the jars plus their time. You pay CHF 31.50 (5% fee). The traveller receives CHF 28.50 (5% fee). The fee is 5% each side.
Flying home yourself? Post your trip and bring back a jar for someone else.
Questions
Can I bring Sarawak laksa paste into Switzerland?
Often yes, but check the label. Meat and dairy products from outside the EU are generally not allowed. Some pastes contain shrimp; ask the BLV if the label lists it.
How much does it cost to have a traveller bring it?
You agree a price with the traveller that covers the jars and their time. Hashiruu adds a 5% fee on each side: on an agreed CHF 30 you pay CHF 31.50 and the traveller receives CHF 28.50.
What if the traveller does not deliver?
Your payment waits in escrow until you confirm you have the jar. If something goes wrong, open a dispute and the money is frozen until it is resolved.
Does the traveller carry a parcel for me?
No. The traveller buys a new, sealed jar in a shop themselves. Runners never carry a closed parcel for anyone.
When are the most flights from Malaysia to Switzerland?
Many people fly home for Christmas and Chinese New Year and come back in early January and February. Post your request a few weeks before, so travellers see it while they plan.