Love letters for every generation

There are still people who continue to make the Chinese New Year staple, love letters (or the traditional way. stumbles upon an all-male team of enthusiasists

“CHINESE love letters! That’s definitely the unmistakable sweet and fragrant scent of kuih kapit,” I tell myself during an early morning walk around the heart of Simpang Empat after wolfing down a large bowl of delicious fish ball noodle soup at a nearby market place stall.

A small town located about 13km south of Alor Star, Simpang Empat is one of my favourite haunts during the weekends due to its cheap and delicious hawker food as well as fresh-from-thefarm produce at the morning farmers’ market.

My visit this time, however, includes an additional agenda. With Chinese New Year fast approaching the tail end of its customary 15-day celebratory period, this trip will probably be the last opportunity to replenish my already receding stock of festive titbits and cookies.

Imagine my delight when I happen to stumble upon three young men, huddled around a gas-lit stove in the front section of a double storey terrace house located behind a row of shop houses fronting the Simpang Empat main road, making love letters.

The first thing that strikes me is the fact that it’s an all-male kuih kapit-making team. It’s definitely a departure from the norm where it’s usually the women folk who enjoy near total monopoly of the process of making these popular paper-thin biscuits, which are a festive must-have for many.