Air Kathira a Ramadan must-have

JOHOR BARU: Air kathira, a popular milk-based drink originating from west Asia, is a must-have during Ramadan here.

One of the drink’s variety here, Air Kathira Abu Bakar, was introduced in 1980 using extra ingredients such as pandan leaves, dates, hazelnuts, raisin, buah semangkuk (dried olive-like fruit), kabung fruit, selasih and kathira which is a natural gum derived from a tree.

The proprietor of the drink, Radziah Abu Bakar, 46, said her late father started the business back then.

“He learned to make the drink from a Pakistani friend.

“The difference with our Air Kathira Abu Bakar is that we use natural ingredients, while others use colouring,” she said at her stall in Kampung Desa Rahmat near Tampoi yesterday.

Radziah said most of the ingredients she used in making air kathira was imported from India, adding that she normally ordered the items four months ahead of Ramadan to make sure the drink was available from the first day of fasting until the eve of Hari Raya.

“My father used to sell the drink in Singapore before moving to Pasar Besar Johor, which is now a shopping mall.

“Even though we have moved to different locations, we still have many loyal customers,” she said, adding that customers also came from Singapore to buy the drink.

There were also requests to market Air Kathira Abu Bakar in Sabah and Sarawak, and other parts of the peninsula.

A packet costs RM4 while a bottle is sold for RM14.

She said due to time and cost constraints, she was not able to market the drink outside Johor.

“Ramadan is usually a busy period for me and my workers, who are mainly my children and relatives.

“We are open 24 hours a day because we do receive late orders,” she said.

Source: TheStar