Thursday August 9, 2012

Petai and milkshake make a good mix at bazaar

By SHAUN HO
shaunh@thestar.com.my

SHAH ALAM: Ramadan bazaars have become a place where modernity meets tradition pickled petai is sold next to Blue Coral milkshake.

At the Ramadan bazaar here, pickled petai seller Saadun Abu Said, 65, who has been trading since he was 13, said it was considered a delicacy among kampung folk.

“You can eat it with rice, dip it in sambal or eat it on its own.

“The Chinese like to eat pickled petai with porridge,” said Saadun, from Batang Kali.

He said pickling the petai seeds takes out the bitter aftertaste and leaves a more pleasant salty flavour.

Tea time: Mohd Fahmi and his business partner Nurul Ashikin Abu Talib manning their Ramadan bazaar stall at the Shah Alam Stadium.

“All we use is salt and water. We do not use vinegar because the flavour is too strong,” added Saadun, who also sells fresh petai.

He said “petai padi” that has a sweet and lemak (fatty) taste is the most popular because it lacks the bitterness of “petai papan”.

Each cup of pickled petai is sold for RM5, while fresh petai is priced at RM5 for five stalks.

At the next stall, customers are attracted to rather than turned off by the sight of a bright blue drink.

Landscape architect Mohd Fahmi Mohd Safi, 27, said he always orders the Blue Coral flavour at bubble tea shops and this gave him the idea to set up a stall selling his favourite drink.

“I am just so attracted to the colour as I think blue is very relaxing,” said Mohd Fahmi, adding that children are his biggest customers.