Sarawak Gula Apong (Chinatown)

Sarawakian cuisine has been pretty much a trend that has been ongoing all across the island especially with the opening of multiple food stalls serving up Sarawak Kolo Mee and Sarawak Laksa in food courts, coffeeshops and hawker centres all around. While most of such establishments do seem to serve up offerings of similar nature, we have recently read about a new stall that had recently sprouted up at Chinatown Complex Food Centre named Sarawak Gula Apong — these folks having taken up a stall unit that is located right beside the original location of Hawker Chan (or also known as 了凡 Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice Noodle) in the red zone. Unlike other Sarawakian food stalls that had opened in recent times, Sarawak Gula Apong is all about their Gula Apong; for those whom are unaware, Gula Apong is a palm sugar similar to that of Gula Jawa / Gula Melaka with potential health benefits as stated in the banner located beside the stall. Considering how they have made one particularly ingredient central to the entire concept, the folks at Sarawak Gula Apong serves up items that allows for the addition of Gula Apong that would hopefully draw patrons to purchase the containers of 100% pure Gula Apong that they also retail — offerings at Sarawak Gula Apong includes Lemonade with Gula Apong, Gula Apong Ice Cream, Grass Jelly with Gula Apong, and a Cold Latte featuring Arabica Robusta Coffee Powder, Fresh Milk, Grass Jelly & Gula Apong.

Skimming through the items which they had to offer, we were a little bit intrigued with the Gula Apong Ice Cream since this was the item that sounded like we could taste their Gula Apong with minimal distractions as compared to some of the beverages which they have to offer. The Gula Apong Ice Cream here costs $1.50, and though the menu does not describe the elements which goes into the Gula Apong Ice Cream, it mainly features a milk-based soft-serve that is drizzled with their Gula Apong. Truth to be told, Sarawak Gula Apong’s primary focus here is on their Gula Apong; the other items which they offer to showcase the Gula Apong are mainly vehicles that are just included to be paired along with it — the milk-based soft serve is of the usual commercially-made soft serve mixes typically used in soft serve / bubble tea shops which sells cheap soft serve. The milk-based soft serve just tastes generically milky and sweet; the texture at times being powdery, overwhelming the notes of the Gula Apong at times. The notes of the Gula Apong only becomes more obvious especially towards the end at the bottom of the cup; the Gula Apong being rich and dense with a gloopy consistency that also comes with deep, earthy notes of sweetness of molasses — one that is not overly sweet that would “bite” the throat, and is much pure as they claim considering its smoothness that is almost similar to pure Gula Melaka. Overall, Sarawak Gula Apong is a stall that offers no surprises — the items that they offer to showcase their Gula Apong aren’t quite things that would bring out the quality of their Gula Apong. We would suggest purchasing the containers of 100% Pure Gula Apong and use them with some home-made desserts and home-cooked food to better taste the Sarawak Gula Apong that they have to offer. An interesting addition to Chinatown Complex Food Centree nonetheless.