Nyonya Kueh by Lulu has been around since the 1990s and I welcomed them 'with open arms' making nyonya kuih easily available at all times of the day (and not just in the mornings from the Malay warongs). You can find Lulu Nyonya Kueh stalls in many shopping malls in the city and beyond.
We used to be given the freedom to choose what we wanted and pack them into plastic containers ourselves (I like to pick only one so that I have more variety) but we don't have that luxury any more. Now, it comes pre-packed and we have to take the entire pack, whether it comes in two, three or more pieces in one pack.
Kuih Talam @ RM2.80 (for 2 pcs)
Kuih Lapis (Red) & Pandan Lapis (Green) @ RM4.20 (for 3 pcs)
Another type of Kuih Lapis @ RM2.80 (for 2 pcs)
Kuih Sago with Coconut @ RM2.80
Kuih Cendol @ RM2.80 (for 2 pcs)
Kuih Serimuka RM1.40 & Pulut Inti @ RM1.05
Here's a look inside the pulut inti which I did like. The gula melaka infused grated coconut wasn't too sweet.
Onde-Onde @ RM2.75 (for 10 pcs)
Pulut Tai-Tai with Kaya @ RM2.80 (for 2 pcs)
Fried Carrot Cake @ RM3.15 (for 3 pcs)
Pulut Panggang @ RM4.20 (for 4 pcs)
Yam Cake @ RM2.80 (for 2 pcs)
It looks like they aren't very good with savoury options.
Since these are nyonya kuihs we're talking about (and they have to cater to the masses), get ready for some 'sweetness' overload like a nyonya kuih should be...though not all overly sweet until I can't tolerate!
They do have quite a few other selection like angku kuih, talam keladi, bingka ubi, fried sesame balls, kuih tako, kuih koci and others as well...but I'm usually only after one when I come here....and that is the Kuih Sago with Coconut...and maybe the Kuih Talam...occasionally!
This one has a top layer made from "santan" (coconut milk) and rice flour and a bottom layer made with extracted juice from pandan leaves. This one is a 'keeper' with the tinge of salt in the fragrant coconut milk and the equally fragrant juice from the "daun pandan" (screwpine leaves).
The fun part about eating kuih lapis is that I can peel the kuih layer by layer and eat it. But, when eating kuih lapis or pandan lapis, there's only two distinctive taste...one of santan and the other of sweetness.
This one is a bit more colourful. For some reason, the top layer of all the kuih lapis is a bit stiff....this kuih is not my 'cup of tea'!
Now, anything with coconut...I love! Anything with sago...I double love!! This one comes in three layers of colour. This is 'hands down' the best tasting 'sweet' kuih offered by Lulu and my no. 1 favourite! ;)
This one is a bit more unique in that you'll be eating cendol in kuih form. It has a layer of red beans at the bottom, followed by a layer of "jagung" (corn), a layer of santan with green looking stuff resembling cendol and finished with a layer of gula melaka. Overall, quite nice but watch out for the extra sweet layer of gula melaka.
I was lucky to find one that have two different kuih packed into one box. The kuih serimuka has a bottom layer made of steamed glutinous rice with santan and a pinch of salt while the top layer is like a custard made from eggs, (more) santan and juice extracted from pandan leaves. I wasn't a fan of the taste of the glutinous rice layer.
These little balls of delight are made from glutinous rice flour dough, with a filling of gula melaka, and rolled in freshly grated coconut. When you pop these little balls of delight into your mouth and bite on it, you'll get a sweet sensation from the burst of the gula melaka syrup. Those with a sweet tooth would surely enjoy this one but it was too sweet for me! :(
This is the Nyonya steamed blue glutinous rice served with their homemade kaya (which they also sell by the way). The blue pea flower is what gives the kuih the blue hue. Although the kaya may be a bit sweet on its own but it was alright eaten with the bland glutinous rice (anyway, you have a choice of how much kaya dip you want).
This used to be my next favourite item after the Sago Kuih but they stopped making and selling it some time ago. And, when they made a return, the taste wasn't quite as good anymore...at times, it's ok when it's not over-fried.
This...you can give it a miss!
And this one...definitely give it a miss too!
It looks like they aren't very good with savoury options.
Since these are nyonya kuihs we're talking about (and they have to cater to the masses), get ready for some 'sweetness' overload like a nyonya kuih should be...though not all overly sweet until I can't tolerate!
My favourite...whenever I am in KL! But I would give it, say 75%. Can't really recall what I had at Nyonya Colours, whether theirs were a lot better or more or less the same. I've had others from dunno where - friends bought for me, those I would give a bit more 80%. My No. 1 would be the ones from the old lady in Kuching - 90%.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the ones from Nyonya Colors are better but they're also half the size and they're not widely distributed like Lulu. My favourite kuih used to be from a stall in Imbi Square but they're no longer there.
DeleteSo many varieties of kueh! I'd like a taste of one each too hee..hee... When I eat kueh serimuka, I only like the top layer. Somehow, I have not yet eaten one where the pulut layer is good.
ReplyDeleteYou're right...it's a bit difficult to find good bottom layer of the serimuka. Sometimes, the pulut is not soft enough or does not have enough santan or the hint of salt is missing.
DeleteKuih Serimuka for me ... i've always loved the balance and contrast between the glutinous rice and the pulut ... whoever invented it was a genius!!! :D
ReplyDeleteAh, I see you like the balance of the sweet and salty layers! ;)
DeleteActually I only like kuih talam and the red kuih lapis out of the lot, because as a kid, my mom usually only buy those two home from the pasar. It was never about the taste when eating kuih lapis, in fact the taste is not important at all. As long as the layers can be peeled off my mouth easily then that is a good kuih lapis! :D :D
ReplyDeleteYes, most kids like kuih lapis because they like to play with their food before eating (plus it's usually very sweet)....and peeling them off layer by layer is fun! ;D
DeleteI love anything with coconut too! Kuih Talam for 2 pc at RM2.80 is a good price! Is it slightly salty? I like mine salty sweet!
ReplyDeleteYes, the top layer of the kuih talam is slightly salty balanced with the sweet pandan layer at the bottom. If you like coconut, then you should try the kuih sago, the best item here in my opinion.
DeleteThe colourful Nyonya kuih always make me take more than I can finish LOL
ReplyDeleteMy fav will be the onde onde, love the oozing gula Melaka (if there is any, some quite stingy with the filling)
I actually love onde onde coz I love gula melaka in anything.....but have to refrain myself because of the sugar content :(
DeleteI have not seen this brand before. The one i bought from subang jaya is different brand. I love to have the angkoo and kuih talam. Will look out for this brand
ReplyDeleteThis brand of kuih can be found in many shopping malls. Kuih talam is everyone's favourite!
DeleteI used to like their nyonya kuehs a lot at Midvalley but I find the quality has gone down so now I prefer those nyonya kuehs by Aroma Nyonya Kueh who distributes their nyonya kuehs to many places.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that their kuih is not as good as it used to be but they're easily available in many places. I've not come across this Aroma brand before though.
DeleteThe Aroma Nyonya brand is not on any signage but is stamped on the clear see-thru plastic cover. The Melaka corner at One Utama and a stall in Ikano sells Aroma Nyonya kueh.
DeleteAh, they're all in the damansara areas, that's probably why I've not encountered them before.
DeleteThey are sold in some coffee shops in PJ too. Small Kuching knows which ones.
Delete