This Malaysian Makes Thai Fruit Sauce To Make Ends Meet & Now It Sells Out Every Weekend
What started as a side hustle has now made Amat successful.
If you've ever dipped a juicy slice of mango into a rich, spicy-sweet sauce and thought, "This is perfection", then you need to meet Amat Larbsib
Image via Amat Larbsib (Provided to SAYS)
At 32, Amat has made a name for himself by selling his signature colek buah namplawan, which has been selling out every weekend for six months straight!
Speaking to SAYS, the stall owner shared that it started out as a financial necessity.
"Honestly, I've faced financial challenges," he admitted. "Being the eldest son, I carry a huge responsibility to take care of my mother and sister. My dad passed away 10 years ago."
With his mum running a small food stall in his kampung, Amat decided to step up and turn his love for fruits into a thriving business.
Image via Amat Larbsib (Provided to SAYS)
Even from a young age, Amat had an entrepreneurial streak. Back in college, he was already selling Thai dishes like som tam and pad kra pow.
During the MCO, he experimented with Thai sweet-sour sauce and green sauce, selling them on TikTok.
But this time, he wanted more than just sauce — he wanted his own stall.
"Alhamdulillah, my mum is the best," he said proudly.
"She gave me the recipe, and today I've been selling colek buah namplawan for six months, and it sells out every weekend!"
Amat drizzles his signature sauce over a combination of cut-up mango, sengkuang, kedondong, guava, and papaya.
Image via Amat Larbsib (Provided to SAYS)
Image via Amat Larbsib (Provided to SAYS)
If he had to describe his sauce in three words, it's "sweet, sour, zaap!"
That's how he puts it. It's the perfect balance of flavours, an addictive mix that keeps customers coming back.
"This recipe is purely from Thailand, as my mum is Siamese. However, in my colek buah, I inject some local flavour like mixing serbuk asam boi with Thai chilli flakes to give it more kick! Namplawan sauce is rich, delicious, and sure to be a crowd favourite," he shared.
Image via Amat Larbsib (Provided to SAYS)
While colek buah namplawan is made for fresh, juicy fruits, Amat swears by pairing it with grilled chicken, meat, and fish.
"Keropok lekor also sedappp,'" he added with a grin.
Spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet? That sounds like the ultimate dipping sauce for just about anything!
And for those wondering how spicy his sauce can get — no worries, it won't have you calling the bomba! "Haha, not that spicy. Everyone can still enjoy it. I'd say about a 4 out of 10 on the spicy level," he said.
Just enough heat to keep things exciting without being overpowering.
Click to watch the video below:
Amat isn't stopping here. If he could experiment with a crazy new flavour, it would be Laksa Lemak Siam Sauce.
"Since I also make Laksa Lemak Siam, I've tried it with salmon — sedappp!" he shared.
Imagine the creamy, coconut-rich flavours of Laksa Lemak Siam mixed with the tangy kick of his signature dip — sounds like a game-changer!
Image via Amat Larbsib (Provided to SAYS)
Image via Amat Larbsib (Provided to SAYS)
Watch a video of him making it below:
Craving a taste? Catch Amat at Budu Poyok, Hill Park Puncak Alam every Saturday and Sunday from 5pm — just be quick, because he sells out fast!
Image via Amat Larbsib (Provided to SAYS)
These Malaysians also prove that, even in the face of real financial struggles, it's never too late to bounce back:
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