KUCHING: A total of 12 products from nine local entrepreneurs are going to be marketed under the brand “Produk Warisan Kampung”.
The products were mumbu pedas, kacang bersalut, acar limau, kuih sepit original, kuih sepit with chocolate, kuih sepit with peanut, kek ati parek, kek buah, sambal tumis ikan bilis, pitis buah, kuih cincin and rempah masak hitam.
Ismarina Ayub, one of the local entrepreneurs who contributed to the marketed products, said that she inherited the recipe to make kuih sepit from her mother.
“We usually make the kuih during festive celebrations like Hari Raya Aidilfitri. It has become a routine where my mother would prepare kuih sepit and serve to guests who visit us during Raya,” she stated.
“It never occurred to me that I would be in this position where kuih sepit would become a business for me to earn income as well as help preserve Sarawak heritage food.”
Kuih sepit is a Sarawak traditional “kuih” (bite-sized snack or dessert) usually served during festive seasons, celebrations and for evening tea. It is made of rice flour, sugar, coconut milk and eggs.
The kuih is very fragile and crumbly. Although crunchy, the kuih can be unpleasantly soggy if it is not properly kept in an air-tight container.
Ismarina added, “I started the business last year. Apart from making the classic kuih sepit, I also tried to diversify my products. From there, I developed kuih sepit with flavours, namely, chocolate, peanut or mixture of both.”
According to the organising chairman Abdul Samat Gany, this is only the first phase of the “Produk Warisan Kampung” initiative.
On the programme, Samat said that it was initiated since early June last year. He added that since June 2018, around 36 kampung heritage products were identified around Kuching for branding.
“The products will be first marketed in Mydin Petra Jaya Hypermarket today through the first phase of the programme. For the next phase, we will be looking into the potential of other local products,” he said at the launch of “Produk Warisan Kampung” at Mydin Petra Jaya Hypermarket here yesterday.
The event was graced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg. Also present were his wife Datuk Amar Jumaani Tuanku Bujang, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) vice chancellor Prof Mohammad Kadim Suaidi, deputy state secretary Dr Sabariah Putit and Mydin project manager Ganesh Chinniah.
