Popularly known as “lemang Kijal”, vendors in this Terengganu town located in the Kemaman district see brisk business from locals as well as customers from as far away as Pahang and Kuala Lumpur.

Vendor Nurul Nabilah Hashnan, 29, said in the days immediately before Aidilfitri, she can sell up to 1,000 sticks of lemang per day. “I sell about 150 sticks on a regular day, but on weekends and during Ramadan, it increases to more than 200 sticks.

“One or two days before Raya, however, sales will skyrocket, and our stall will be open from morning to night,” she told Bernama at her stall recently.

Nurul Nabilah said she is grateful to be able to earn extra income during the festive season, having taken over the lemang business started four decades ago by her mother-in-law, Atikah Salleh.

Atikah said lemang traders are facing challenges this year due to the rising cost of ingredients, particularly coconut milk. But the 78-year-old stressed that she would not skimp on ingredients, in order to preserve the authenticity and quality of her lemang.

“Lemang must have the right balance of flavours. Coconut milk is expensive now, but diluting it would alter its taste. Customers will notice the difference, and they won’t return to our stall,” she said, adding that her lemang is priced at around RM5 per stick, depending on its size.

Another vendor, Azman Abdul Wahab, said during Ramadan, he sells 200 sticks of lemang by 2-3pm, compared with 6pm usually.

The 49-year-old added that, owing to the sharp increase in coconut milk prices from RM10 per kg to between RM14 and RM16 per kg, he can no longer sell three sticks of lemang for RM10.

“I use around 10kg of coconut milk per day. So, this year, I am forced to raise the price of lemang slightly to between RM10 and RM20 for two lemang sticks, depending on the size.

“Thankfully, most customers understand and continue to buy, because lemang Kijal has a unique flavour that can’t be found anywhere else,” he concluded.