Kuala Pilah’s ‘exotic’ coconut drink

Malaysians are intimately familiar with exotic traditional thirst quenchers such as the 'cendol' and 'air nira,' which are variants of fermented coconut juice.

To make cendol, one requires coconut milk, jelly noodles made from rice flour, green food colouring (usually derived from Pandan leaves), shaved ice and palm sugar.

One may also add red beans, glutinous rice, grass jelly and creamed corn while making cendol.

Lately, another 'new generation' exotic drink has been making waves in and around the small town of Kuala Pilah in Negeri Sembilan, located some 100 km from Kuala Lumpur.

An exotic drink

The road that connects Ulu Bendul to Kuala Pilah town is known for 'rojak' and cendol. In fact, there are many stalls selling an exotic drink called 'Air Jando Pulang,' which literally means a beverage that can entice your ex-wife to 'return to you.’

Many travellers visit these stalls to taste the drink because of its unique name and to find out what is so great about this drink, which is gaining popularity in this district.

Air Jando Pulang is a traditional drink of Negeri Sembilan and is sold at various spots in the state, including Kuala Pilah.

It quenches thirst, and the demand for the drink is huge during the fasting month.

What is so special about this exotic drink?

There are two variants of Air Jando Pulang.

The first is a combination of coconut juice and syrup, while the second is a combination of coconut juice and palm sugar.

Young coconuts are sliced and the flesh and juice are extracted. Then, the flesh and juice are mixed with either syrup or palm sugar.

'Halwa,’ a sweet Indian dish comprising carrots or semolina boiled with milk, almonds, sugar, butter and cardamom, is also added to the concoction.

According to Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris' (UPSI) senior lecturer Datuk Paduka Prof Madya Dr Mohd Rosli Saludin, who is familiar with Kuala Pilah, said according to locals, the drink can relieve stomach discomfort and urinary incontinence.

A drink that is 'out of this world'

However, some people who had consumed the drink for the first time said they felt dizzy and nauseous. They complained that the drink was a bit too sweet, which could be a result of adding palm sugar.

Since the locals were full of praise for the drink, this writer decided to taste it. People who had consumed the drink earlier had claimed that the drink was ‘out of this world.’

So, this writer consumed the drink at a restaurant called 'Kodai Makan-makan,’ which offered Air Jando Pulang in their menu.

According to the manager of the restaurant, who wished to be known as Zul, the restaurant is planning to promote the drink to local travellers and foreign tourists.

Suhaimi Sidek, who is the owner of 'Restoran Warisan' at the Terachi Cultural Village here, offers Air Jando Pulang as a welcome drink to diners, judging from the responses of the public.

A customer at another restaurant by the name of Ayu, when asked by this writer on why she had requested for the drink, replied with a smile, "If the name is exquisite in its own right, then the drink must surely be exotic enough". - Bernama, June 20, 2013.