Bachok: An innovative twist on cooking lemang in steel drum barrels has brought success to a former soldier, who has secured 7,000 orders since last week, with demand extending until the first day of Syawal. Jeffrey Abdullah, 44, said his steel drum-cooked lemang, available near the Padang Pak Amat Mosque, has been a crowd favourite every Aidilfitri.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Jeffrey began making steel drum-cooked lemang while serving in the military in 2000. During the Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2020, he started selling it in Kampung Pak Badol, Mahligai, Bachok. Since then, more and more customers have discovered his product. Jeffrey shared that his lemang’s distinct aroma comes from the use of wild banana leaves and bamboo sourced from Jeli.

The lemang is crafted using only three basic ingredients: glutinous rice, coconut milk, and salt. “A single steel drum can cook about 30 to 32 lemang in just 20 to 30 minutes. After that, we smoke it with charcoal to ensure it cooks evenly,” said Jeffrey, who runs the business with his wife, Nur Sabrina Zakaria, 41, and 17 workers. This method not only saves time but also ensures the lemang is evenly cooked, unlike the traditional method, which can take up to two hours.

Jeffrey’s innovation has piqued the interest of lemang makers from other states, such as Penang, who have purchased his handmade steel drum barrels for their enterprises. His stall offers freshly made lemang, priced between RM15 and RM20 each depending on size, along with his savoury chicken rendang at RM10 per container.