SANDAKAN: The grass jelly drink, whom the Chinese believe to have a cooling effect on the body, is now enjoyed all over the world either in its home-made freshly produced form or manufactured as canned drinks. Known in Malay as ‘cincau’, the grass jelly drink is often consumed during hot weather. In Sandakan, a homemade grass jelly has become known to the locals for its special delicious taste.
A recipe that has been passed down in the Yap family for three generations, the Yap’s grass jelly has not only become the favorite of locals, it has even attracted visitors from all over Malaysia as well as China and Japan. The family business started from a grocery store here over 70 years ago.
About 50 years ago, the family started operating another chain of grocery store near Jalan Sibuga here, named Yap Syn Kee which translates to Yap’s store. According to the founder’s granddaughter, Yap Su Fui who is running the business, the family decided to put the family’s signature grass jelly or ‘leong fun’ for sale at the grocery store about 30 years ago, and it has become a local hit ever since.
Today, the family still retains its business concept of selling grass jelly at one corner of the grocery store. Its authenticity has become an attraction for customers. Customers enjoy the old structure of the store which has not been altered for the past 50 years, and unlike a restaurant, the grocery store only provides two benches for customers to enjoy their drinks, return the mugs to the counter and make their payments. “We do not wish to open a restaurant or change the concept of this store, because the store has been like this for the past 50 years and a concept such as this has become rare and difficult to find. “We want customers to enjoy the original authentic store.
Some of our older customers often come by the shop just to reminiscence the old times, and the younger generation come by because they love the ambience that is simple and relaxing,” Su Fui said. Currently, Su Fui, her mother and her sister are the only ones running the store. Every morning, they would prepare a new batch of grass jelly to sell in the afternoon.
On a typical day, their grass jelly would be sold out by 3pm, and customers would have to come the next day if they wanted more. “We understand that the demand is increasing, but we do not plan to expand this business or change it in any way because we are comfortable of staying this way.
Plus, we aim to retain what our grandfather has left us,” she added. Sandakan grass jelly or leong fun has become more and more popular amongst the visitors as recommendations through social media by locals and bloggers have been increasing over time. According to Su Fui, she was surprised to see visitors from China and Japan who found their way to the store, looking for the famous grass jelly. “It is truly amazing how this little store could be known to tourists.
We hope that we could make more people try our family’s grass jelly, but we do not intend to expand the business,” she explained.
The grass jelly drinks sold are available in two sizes, where a small cup is charged at RM1.70 and RM2.50 for the big mug. Served with evaporated milk, sugar, water, shredded ice and the Yap’s special homemade grass jelly, many first-time customers brought home a few packs of the drinks after they tried a glass at the store.
A visitor from Kota Kinabalu, Daneil Chan who had found out about the store through food blogs on the internet, said that the grass jelly was very fragrant and the ratio of the evaporated milk and grass jelly was combined perfectly. “I also particularly liked the ambience of the store which reminds me of the old times. I love it so much that I have been returning to Yap Syn Kee three times in one week,” he said.