A Life Devoted to Feeding and Healing the World
From Burma to Malaysia – A Journey Shaped by Food
Mohana Rosie Gill was born in Myanmar (Burma) at a time when the world was on the cusp of great change. Growing up in a household where food was more than nourishment — it was culture, medicine, and love — she developed an early and enduring reverence for the power of natural ingredients.
After completing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Rangoon and her MBA at the University of Toronto, Mohana embarked on a life of learning, travel, and exploration. She lectured at the University of Rangoon and later at Universiti Malaya, where she settled in Malaysia in 1963 — a country she has proudly called home for over six decades.
Those early years as a self-described “Travelling Gourmet” took her across continents — tasting, studying, and absorbing the culinary wisdom of cultures from Asia to the Americas. Every journey added a new layer to a culinary identity that was uniquely her own: rooted in Burmese tradition, enriched by Malaysian heritage, and broadened by the world.
Heading: A Debut at 70 – And a Legacy That Has Never Stopped Growing
In 2006, at the age of 70, Mohana Gill published her first book — Fruitastic! It immediately won the Special Award of the Jury and Best in the World at the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. Most people would consider that the achievement of a lifetime. For Mohana, it was only the beginning.
Since that debut, she has published more than 13 award-winning books — spanning cookbooks, children’s literature, cultural heritage, and wellness advocacy. Her titles include:
- Fruitastic! (2006) — Gourmand Best in the World
- Vegemania! (2007) — Best Vegetarian Book in the World
- Myanmar: Cuisine, Culture & Customs (2013) — Best Asian Cuisine Book in the World
- Happylicious (2015) — Best Food & Family Book in the World
- The Hayley’s Happylicious Series (8 books, 2016 onwards) — Multiple Nautilus Awards & IBBY Honour List 2020
- Flowerlicious (2021) — Best in the World
- Leela (2022) — Book Excellence Award
- Moringalicious (2023) — Best in the World (Food & Nature) + Best of the Best Malaysia in the World (Gourmand 2025)
- Hayley’s Moringalicious Malaysia (2024)
She is the only Malaysian author to win the Gourmand “Best in the World” award nine times — and the only author in Malaysia to receive the “Best of the Best” honour twice at the Gourmand 30th Anniversary in Riyadh.
A Lifetime of Recognition
Food Is Medicine. Cooking Is Love.
We are providing the canvas, colours, and brush. If cooking is done with passion, it is bound to taste delicious and heal the soul
Mohana Gill
At 90 years old, Mohana Gill lives the philosophy she has always preached. Her days are filled with writing, gardening, cooking, and connecting with the communities she serves. She follows a predominantly plant-based diet, tends her own Moringa garden, and continues to write new books — including her upcoming title, Malaysian Treasure. Her life is her greatest argument for everything she teaches: that good food, grown and cooked with love, is the foundation of a long, vibrant, and purposeful life. She does not just write about wellness. She embodies it.
Explore Mohana's Books
From award-winning cookbooks to beloved children's series - there is a Mohana Gill book for every family
