KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 — It’s been an unpredictable January in terms of the weather. So far it has been different weather extremes — sweltering hot one minute and pouring rain the next. One way to beat the heat when the sun is up is to search for these coconut delights, from fresh coconut water to coconut jelly.
For a refreshing sip, there’s nothing like a glass of coconut water. You can find it at scores of roadside stalls where they chop the coconut in front of you. Even the supermarkets stock them pre-cut but I found out the hard way that they are a poor choice as many a time I have ended up with one that has gone sour because of the poor refrigeration. Your best choice for a glass of refreshing coconut water is to frequent the roadside stalls. It’s also best to keep it all natural so omit the syrup if you can.
Coconut stall along Jalan Puchong Jaya, Puchong.
Tel: 016-6062868.
Open: 8.30am to 5pm. Closed on major public holidays.
This eight-year-old stall that trades outside a house is run by Chong Kee Chen. What makes his stall unusual is the selection of coconuts he sources from Sitiawan, Perak. Delivery of his coconuts are made around three times a week. The coconut water is naturally sweet so there’s no need to add any sugar keeping it a healthier treat. He also takes bulk orders for more than 100 coconuts provided there is advance notice of at least two days.
Kelapa Bakar Stall (in front of Action Wheels), Kampung Melayu Subang, Jalan Sungai Buloh, Shah Alam.
Open daily: 9am to 10pm.
Located just off Jalan Sungai Buloh, you can’t miss the burning coconuts in repurposed oil drums. When they are chopped, the smoke from the burnt and blackened coconuts definitely is an eye opener. This method for roasting the coconuts for two to four hours is practised in Sabah and Indonesia where the roasted coconuts are used in traditional medicine to cure wind and fatigue. While there’s not much difference to the taste of the coconut water which is best drunk warm, the flesh tastes sweeter and is more tender with a slightly blackened colour. Normal coconut juice is also offered at this stall next to a fruit stall. The stall also offers a sweetened creamer (to be added to the coconut water) for those who prefer a sweet milkier taste. A stop by this stall also offers a nice view of aeroplanes landing at Subang airport as it’s just below their flight path.
AR Coconut Shake, Jalan 3/1 (in front of Masjid Sungai Buloh and Econsave), Off Jalan Kuala Selangor, Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh.
Open daily: 10am to 10pm.
Indulge in this cooling coconut shake where coconut flesh and water are blended with ice cubes and ice cream for a touch of creaminess. This stall operates at the busy stall area near the mosque and is located right opposite Cendol Pak Su. You can mix your coconut shake with bandung syrup and cincau if you prefer it to be sweeter. You can also grab curry mee or asam pedas from the same stall. They also operate from a van that is usually parked at Jalan USJ4/5.
Coconut Grove Dessert Corner, G-B.02, BU 11, Oasis Business Centre, Lebuh Bandar Utama, PJ.
Open: 11am to 9.30pm (Monday to Thursday), 11am to 10pm (Friday to Sunday).
This spot is popular for its chilled coconut jelly which is served inside a young coconut. Relish the cool transparent jelly and once you are finished you can scrape the flesh inside the coconut. Additional toppings for the coconut jelly can also be added like aloe vera, red beans, cendol or nata de coco. The dessert specialist also whizzes up a refreshing and rich tasting coconut shake. Just be careful to drink it slowly or else you may suffer occasional brain freeze! Sometimes you can even score a fresh coconut cake topped with coconut shavings. There’s daily homemade tong sui, wobbly soybean jelly and Nyonya kuih. If you feel peckish, pick up a pack of nasi lemak bungkus from the counter.
Coconut stall in front of 7-Eleven, Jalan Padang Belia, Brickfields, KL.
Open: 10am to 5pm. Closed on public holidays.
Operating since the 1980s and currently run by a middle-aged Chinese couple, this stall is a landmark among the residents in the area. A few tables and chairs are placed next to the convenience stall so sit down and wait for your refreshments. You have a choice of sweet tasting coconut water, cendol or ais kacang topped with finely shaved ice which will cool you down. If you are lucky, you can sometimes persuade the stall owner to add some coconut flesh to your ais kacang.
