Tanjak Cake Adds Sweet Touch To National Month Celebrations

By Mohamad Syazwan Mustafa

BATU PAHAT, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Celebrating National Month with a sweet twist, a bakery in Parit Raja here has turned the iconic traditional Malay headgear, the tanjak, into an edible work of art, combining artistry, flavour and cultural pride.

Decorated with tanjak-shaped paper cutouts in the Jalur Gemilang motif and subtle adornments along its sides, the cake evokes a vibrant patriotic spirit.

D’Honey Bakery marketing officer Azua Nasiha Rosli, 30, said the idea of the tanjak cake originated in 2016 as an effort to showcase Malay traditional attire through the art of baking and to foster appreciation of the nation’s heritage among the younger generation.

“We want to foster the spirit of love for the nation through something close to the hearts of the community, and by turning the tanjak, traditionally worn on the head, into a cake, we hope to popularise it further,” she told Bernama when met recently.

She said the cakes were especially popular among students, who viewed them as a sweet symbol of celebrating National Day at school.

Azua Nasiha said that in addition to the tanjak cake, other patriotic-themed treats such as Jalur Gemilang cupcakes, the ‘Gemilang Cake’ and the ‘Merdeka Splash Cake’ have also been selling well throughout August.

She said the bakery, which has been operating for 12 years, made headlines in 2023 with a cake featuring the animated character MechAmato holding the Jalur Gemilang, sparking the ‘Mecha-Merdeka’ phenomenon.

“In 2019, we received a special Merdeka order from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Suria Perdana to produce a giant cake made from 52 12-inch cakes, prepared together with teachers and students,” she said.

Azua Nasiha said the bakery, which has 40 employees and three branches in Batu Pahat, was now planning to expand the patriotic concept to other pastry products, including flag-patterned bread and pizza, to attract more customers.

Meanwhile, civil servant Mashitah Abd Kadir, 37, praised the tanjak cake produced for National Month, describing it as a creative blend of Malay heritage and flavours enjoyed by many.

“My children and I really like this tanjak cake. It is beautiful and unique. It not only enlivens the Merdeka celebration but also revives the spirit of patriotism with a touch of Malay tradition,” she said.

--BERNAMA