'Bahulu' in various shapes, colours win over customers

Sinar Daily

10 hours ago

Mohd Shabir and Nor Fazenda started their bahulu business in 2018, but a year later, they were inspired to elevate it beyond its role as a traditional snack, aiming to position it on par with other modern food products.
09 Aug 2025 01:00pm
Traditionally shaped like flowers or fish, the bahulu they make come in the shapes of roses, tulips, pineapples and corn, and in attractive colours, in line with modern consumer demand. - Bernama photo
LUMUT - Husband and wife team Mohd Shabir Hafidz Arshad and Nor Fazenda Ahmad Fadzli have reimagined the humble bahulu, a delightful Malay sponge cake, elevating it through creative innovations.
Without diminishing the taste and heritage value of this traditional kuih, the couple offers uniquely shaped and coloured bahulu for their customers who use the delicacy as part of the wedding hantaran (gifts exchanged between the bride and groom) or give them away as souvenirs. The duo also creates eye-catching bahulu bouquets that are perfect for gifts and celebrations. Mohd Shabir Hafidz Arshad and Nor Fazenda Ahmad Fadzli - Bernama photo
Mohd Shabir, 37, and Nor Fazenda, 35, started their bahulu business in 2018, but a year later, they were inspired to elevate it beyond its role as a traditional snack, aiming to position it on par with other modern food products.
Traditionally shaped like flowers or fish, the bahulu they make come in the shapes of roses, tulips, pineapples and corn and in attractive colours, in line with modern consumer demand.
"We try to adapt the shapes based on customer requests as well as our own ideas. The feedback has been very positive. Our customers praise the taste and are happy that the bahulu lasts longer, even with the added colouring.
"They're also satisfied giving the bahulu away as gifts, wedding offerings or bouquets because they say they are beautiful, neatly done and attractively packaged,' said Nor Fazenda when met by Bernama at the couple's bahulu making premises in Kampung Sungai Tiram in Lekir, Sitiawan.
She added that bahulu shaped like tulips, fish, roses, wheels, pineapples, bananas, grapes and corn are frequently ordered by customers for the wedding hantaran, with the colours based on customer preferences.
The prices of their special range of bahulu used as souvenirs or bouquets, or for hantaran, range from as low as RM1 each to RM100. However, due to their delicate nature, the bahulu cannot be sent via courier and are only available for pickup or local delivery.
Their classic bahulu, on the other hand, can be shipped across Malaysia, including to Sabah and Sarawak. The couple said they have even received orders from countries like Australia and Scotland.
Mohd Shabir, meanwhile, said bahulu is made using special moulds bought online or sourced from crockery shops or antique markets such as Loken Market in Ipoh. Traditionally shaped like flowers or fish, the bahulu they make come in the shapes of roses, tulips, pineapples and corn, and in attractive colours, in line with modern consumer demand. - Bernama photo
"While we use modern appliances like electric mixers and ovens to ease production, we still preserve the original bahulu recipe, which is free from preservatives or artificial flavourings,' said Mohd Shabir, whose late mother Siti Aminah Awang had been involved in making traditional bahulu for over 30 years.
Despite using just three basic ingredients - eggs, sugar and wheat flour - he said bahulu preparation requires precision, experience and patience to maintain the quality and texture passed down through generations.
Each month, they use around 70 kilogrammes of sugar and flour, and about 800 eggs, with the numbers tripling during school holidays and festive seasons.
Their business generates a monthly profit of up to RM6,000, rising to between RM10,000 and RM15,000 during Ramadan and Hari Raya. - BERNAMA
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