From rice to remedy: Penang maker’s time‑honoured 40‑day method keeps traditional ‘bedak sejuk’ craft alive
GEORGE TOWN, Aug 16 — Before commercial talcum powders and skincare products became commonplace, bedak sejuk&...
In George Town, Penang, a traditional cooling powder known as bedak sejuk has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Made from rice and water, this centuries-old remedy was once a common household staple for cooling the skin in Malaysia's hot climate and soothing itchiness caused by conditions like chicken pox. Madeleine Yeoh, a 49-year-old maker, has been preserving this tradition by continuing the craft that was handed down to her from her father.
The process of making bedak sejuk is labor-intensive and time-consuming, taking up to 40 days to complete a single batch. The rice is soaked for a month, blended into a paste, strained, dried under the sun for three days, and then sieved and bottled. Despite the demanding nature of the process and the modest profit margins, Yeoh continues to produce bedak sejuk as a way to preserve an important cultural heritage.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
