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Foretaste of Perak's popular
earthenware Heritage
Labu Sayong is a
type of earthenware jug (pitcher) that certain Perak Malays
use for the storage of drinking water.
Its burnt-black colour
and unique gourd-shape gives it the ability to cool its
contents quickly and some believe that water stored in such a
manner is palliative against many illnesses and disorders.
Labu Sayong is made from very fine clayey soil, which is first
pounded into extremely fine powder and then separated from coarser
remains and wood (from the pounding). Water is then added and the
mixture kneaded and shaped into its characteristic
"double-bulb" shape, both of which are traditional skills.
The labu is then dried in the sun to ensure even pre-drying, and
baked in a kiln to a sufficiently high temperature. When this is
done, the labu is removed from the kiln and "roasted" in
padi husk, until it turns into a rich black colour.
There is a labu cottage industry
centred around Kampung Kepala
Bendang in Sayong, approximately
15 km. from Kuala Kangsar. Apart
from this , the Malaysian
Handicraft Development
Corporation, Perak Branch, has
opened a Handicraft Centre at
Enggor nearby, which also offers
a training course in the making
of Labu Sayong, apart from
selling these useful and
attractive items.
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