This family-run cafe in Kota Damansara is sharing the delights of this local sweetener to the world
Ellyna Merican first discovered gula apong when she was in Kuching with her family on a business trip last year. This natural sweetener is made from the sap of the nipah palm, which grows abundantly along the coast of the state in East Malaysia. She noticed how the locals used it in many types of food including cendol, cakes, drinks, even chicken wings.
Her family fell in love with gula apong’s sweet and slightly salty taste, which reminded them of salted caramel. One night at dinner, her sister Emylia had a brainwave: Why not create a place serving gula apong ice cream?
That was how Oh Apong was born. This Kota Damansara-based café, which opened in May this year, is on a mission to promote gula apong as a unique treat in Kuala Lumpur.
“We wanted to differentiate our ice cream from the flavours already available in the market and found gula apong to be a total game changer. We thought more people should try and fall in love with this unique-tasting ice cream, just like we did. We seek to evoke emotions and tell a story with our ice cream, while highlighting its origin,” enthuses Merican.
The café was founded with her family—parents Dato' Zulzurin Merican and Datin Jamaliah Shariff, and siblings Emylia and Eirwan. They hail from Kedah but have been living in Selangor since 1997.
Step into Oh Apong and you’ll be greeted by a light, breezy atmosphere, complete with pastel hues and an abundance of potted plants. Its décor integrates touches of local culture, such as rattan furniture, nyatoh wood detailing and, of course, a nipah palm mural to reiterate the source of gula apong. Decorative tiles and wooden blinds complete the café’s nostalgic feel.
“The design stemmed mainly from our love for the café hopping and dessert-hunting; the good ol’ pre-pandemic days when we would Google the most Instagrammable cafés to chill in,” says Merican,
We envisioned a similar café experience with Oh Apong, a cheerful and refreshing ambience where urban folks can unwind from the stresses and worries of life
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