Centuries-old traditional biscuit still made using charcoal stove to this day
Updated 4 years ago · Published on 31 Jan 2022 12:49PM
Annie Lim, who lives in the fishing village of Pulau Ketam near Port Klang, helps her mother make the traditional Lunar New Year biscuits, kuih kapit, every year. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, January 31, 2022
by Sairien Nafis
PORT KLANG – Kuih kapit, often referred to as Chinese love letters, is perhaps the most popular of Lunar New Year cookies that have been around for centuries.
The cookie is made using a specialised mould, known as the kuih kapit mould, which has two round iron plates joined together by thongs.
The plates are imprinted with patterns, which are then transferred onto the cookies. Kuih kapit gets its name from the shape of the cookie when pressed into the mould (‘kapit’ in the Malay language means to compress).
A survey by The Vibes photographer, SAIRIEN NAFIS, ahead of the Chinese New Year tomorrow, found folk in Pulau Ketam here busy tidying up and beautifying their homes, while some were busy making kuih kapit.
In addition to mandarin oranges, kuih kapit, which is now becoming a delicacy for all races in Malaysia, is a must-have treat during Chinese New Year.
Though the world is becoming increasingly modern, these traditional cookies are still made using a charcoal stove to this day, giving it an authentic taste. There are also sellers offering kuih kapit in various flavours and fillings, giving it a contemporary twist. – The Vibes, January 31, 2022
The kuih kapit cookies are folded into a triangle. They may also be rolled up in the shape of a cigar. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, January 31, 2022Lee Chau Te, 63, arranging dozens of kuih kapit moulds on a charcoal stove. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, January 31, 2022 Lee Chau Te, with the help of his daughter, Annie Lim, makes kuih kapit, some of which are ordered by the locals of Pulau Ketam and the surrounding areas. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, January 31, 2022With around 2,000 residents, Pulau Ketam, a Chinese-majority fishing village glows with the arrival of Chinese New Year. - SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, January 31, 2022Residents of Pulau Ketam, a fishing village that was founded circa 1880, decorate their homes to celebrate Chinese New Year. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, January 31, 2022Tan Huan Kuan, a resident of Pulau Ketam, is excited to decorate the house and prepare goodies for the celebration. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, January 31, 2022A trader arranges prayer items at a shop in Pulau Ketam in preparation for the Chinese New Year festival. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, January 31, 2022After over a year not being able to return to Pulau Ketam due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Tan Bee Lee (left) , 31, who works in Singapore, is finally able to celebrate Chinese New Year with family this year. – SARIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, January 31, 2022A trader displaying Chinese New Year decorations sold at her grocery store in Pulau Ketam. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, January 31, 2022A Pulau Ketam village committee member arranges lanterns around the fishing village in Port Klang in preparation for Chinese New Year tomorrow. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, January 31, 2022
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![[PHOTOS] Kuih kapit, a Chinese New Year must](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/2022/January_2022/CNY_pulau_ketam/_large/23012022_-_CNY_preparation_at_Pulau_Ketam-_Sairien-04.JPG)
