To Buy List~ Local Specialties

Sarawak Layer Cake 

One of the first things that people notice while walking along the Main Bazaar in Chinatown are the tables of colorful cakes sold in plastic boxes. Known locally as kek lapis, the layer cakes are edible art and come in a huge variety of flavors including coffee, sweet-and-sour, cheese, and assorted bizarre flavors you would not normally associate with a dessert.

It is also a tradition in Sarawak to serve the layer cakes on special occasion such as open house and other cultural or religion festivals celebration.  

Sarawak Pepper 

Sarawak is one of the largest pepper producer in Malaysia and it has gained international recognition by chefs and gourmets as one of the most favourite pepper ingredients due to its distinctive flavour and taste perfected through years of government funded agro-research. Today, with the advancement of technology, there's more variance in pepper produces like pepper candies and pepper perfume (you won't sneeze). Pepper plantations can be seen along the Kuching-Serian Road. 

Salted Terubok Fish 

Sarawak's all-time favourite and very unique souvenir craze is the Salted Terubok (American Shad) Fish. Visitors would normally come back from Sarawak bearing salted terubok (nicely wrapped in a box for longer preservation) for their friends and family. One of the favourite fishes in Sarawak, terubok is full of bones but tasty nevertheless. The trick of the trade is to find the biggest terubok fish as the bones are larger and easier to dispose. Also available is the terubok egg, and far more expensive. It may set you back about RM200 per kg.

Sarikei Pineapple

Sarikei is famous for its pineapple. The town is the pineapple capital of Sarawak. It lies in the centre of an agricultural area. Pineapple is the 'star' of the town where there will be a Pineapple Festival held every year. In fact, right in the middle of town, there stood the town's emblem standing at five metres tall on the waterfront. 

     

Pesta Nanas Sarikei (Pineapple Festival)

Date : Aug 3 - 7 2011 Venue : Sarikei Sarikei Sarawak Organiser : Sarikei Resident Office Phone : 084-653540/653437/655432. Fax : 084-653204/659429 Email : alexl@sarawaknet.gov.my; mohamair@sarawaknet.gov.my Website : https://www.sarikeiro.sarawak.gov.my

 

The fruit bears testament to a true 'winner' of the agricultural sector, it contains sugar content of 17 per cent, low acid and few pickles on its leaves. The fruit can be kept cool and has a long shelf life.

During the festival, various classes of pineapple were judged for sweetness, shape, colour and appearance - Nanas Madu, Nanas Sawi and Nanas Paun.

Beads 

The indigenous people of Sarawak have since long ago been associated with beadwork for adornment as well as for ceremonial purposes. Here, beads tradition goes back to the very remote past. The variety of beads, the materials from which they are made , their colours and the values attributed, all make up an interesting conversation and discussion. Beads, today, are used in many different ways and one can see government officials using them as gifts and garlands for different functions and events as well. 

Pottery

Pottery made in Sarawak is of two distinctive types - one done by the Iban, Murut and Kelabit potters and the other by Chinese potters. Today, the range of Sarawak's potters have improved vastly as they create ceramic stools, drinking water cisterns, decorative jars and vases, lamps, candle holders, ashtrays, teapots, mugs and even photo frames.

Attractive souvenir items are also produced, ideal for tourists and visitors. Even the locals use Sarawak pottery as gifts during official functions and special occasions. Kuching's potteries are grouped together at 8th Mile on the Penrissen Road, just outside the state capital.

Bamboo 

From containers to kitchenware, flooring to fans and pipes for water or tobacco, bamboo is used in a thousand ways in Sarawak. The variety of its uses is matched only by the diversity of the designs and carvings.

The Bidayuh people are masters of bamboo carving, and produce very fine boxes and containers that may have been designed to hold betel nut or blowpipe darts, but are just as good for storing pens and pencils. The Penan tribe produces equally fine bamboo basketry.