Sarawak Geographical Indications

Dabai is one of many exotic fruits in Sarawak.

It is commonly known as orkana - means 'black olive' in Hokkien, but technically it is not an olive.

The dabai tree can grow up to 21 meters high and it's furry leaves are thin and its twigs are covered with golden down. A planting distance of 9 meters is recommended. You need to prune the young trees to produce more bushy growth.

Dabai trees are dioecious (i.e have separate sexes) with male and female trees required for fruiting! Dabai are white in colour when immature and turn black when ripe. They are oblong in shape like an olive and have thin, edible skin. The yellowish white flesh wraps around a three-angled seed. Soak the dabai in hot water until they are soft.

The yellowish flesh tastes creamy. Eating the skin is a personal preference. For taste, try either soy sauce or salt. You can also preserve it just by soaking them with black soy sauce or with coarse salt (without the seed). Dabai fried rice is a specialty dish in Sarawak. However this is a seasonal fruit.

The second best thing that comes out from a fruit is the nut inside the seed. Crack it open with a mortar and pestle set; the good old-fashion way. Use a toothpick to remove the nut if necessary.

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Comment by 邊鄉岸 on April 23, 2015 at 10:13pm: Ikan Terubuk Sarawak Mulut Besar Sarawak

Studies show Sarawak terubuk changes gender as it matures.

Scientific studies show that the male of the Terubuk or big-mouthed shad, also known as Tenualosa toli, can evolve into a female when it reaches maturity, said Sarawak Agriculture Department director Datuk Lai Kui Fong.

He said the fish had been registered as geographical indication (GI) by the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO).

The GI certificate for the big-mouthed Tenualosa toli was presented to the Sarawak Information Technology and Resources Council on May 12 this year.

This endemic species, as revealed by scientific studies, is protandous hermaphrodite, which means the male can evolve into a female when it reaches maturity, said Lai.

He said the delicious and sweet-tasting fish could only be found in the coastal waters of Sarawak, stretching from Sematan to Lawas.

“The breeding grounds are at the estuary of Batang Lupar, Sri Aman, and Batang Lassa, Mukah, with two breeding seasons per year,” he said.

He said the big-mouthed shad could easily be distinguished from other species such as the sea water tenualosa macrura which is small-mouthed, has smooth scales, an elongated body and a long tail.

According to Lai, besides the big-mouthed Sarawak tenualosa toli, the Bario rice, Bilis Sarawak rice, Sarawak Bajong rice, Sarawak sour eggplant, ‘dabai’ Sarawak, Isau Sarawak (green longan) and Sarawak Nyekak durian also obtained the GI certificate.

In addition, three more Sarawak products, namely the ‘midin’ vegetable and two varieties of local traditional rice, are awaiting the GI certification from MyIPO, he said. -Bernama