Fondly known as “Mamu Jalil”, the 50-year-old only won the “Raja Teh Tarik” title once, in 2003. However, his enthusiasm for making the milk tea beverage, along with his exuberant display of patriotism, have firmly entrenched him as the people’s “teh tarik king”.
He is a familiar sight to many, performing his “tea pulling” acrobatics dressed in his trademark Jalur Gemilang-themed shirt, pants and songkok. A large name tag bearing the words “Raja Teh Tarik – Mamu Jamil” is pinned to his right breast pocket at all times.Off duty, he can still be seen sporting the songkok and wearing a batik shirt.
Even the stainless steel mugs he uses to “pull” his tea are adorned with Jalur Gemilang stickers.
He said the very sight of the Malaysian flag boosts his spirits as well as his ability to whip up a frothy cup of lip-smacking teh tarik time and time again.
“There is something about the flag. Whenever I wear it, I feel like I’m one with it.
“It feels right, that’s why I wear it whenever I perform,” he told FMT.
Jalil has been concocting his famous teh tarik since 1988. He only made a name for himself after he started work at the first Pelita Nasi Kandar Restaurant at Chai Leng Park, Perai, in 1995 when his remarkable teh tarik-making skills were put on display.
He quickly shot to fame, to the point where caterers had a hard time booking him for weddings and official functions.
Not a single drop of tea spills as he pours the thick liquid from one mug into another.
Many also have fond memories of his trademark dance as he gyrates to the beat of Malay and Bollywood hits.
“There’s something about the music, I tell you. It’s really great.
“It puts me into the right mood and it affects the taste of the teh tarik. The better the music, the better the tea,” he said.
The key to a good cuppa
When asked about the unique taste of his tea which catapulted him to teh tarik stardom, Jalil said it came from the endless hours he spent experimenting with different tea powders in search of the perfect mix.
According to him, a potent mix of seven different powders from several different brands helps deliver just the right aroma, taste and flavour.
“I boil my tea in a pot until it pours over. And I am also a believer that teh tarik should not be too sweet,” he said, giving away his secret of adding more evaporated milk than condensed milk to arrive at just that right blend of richness and sweetness.
“I like to credit God with making my drinks taste the way they do. Before I begin mixing my drinks, I say Bismillah and selawat prayers.”
Aside from teh tarik, Jalil also makes tasty sorbets and other cordial-based drinks.
Pulling tea all over the world
Jalil has travelled to 13 different countries around the world, most memorably as part of a Matrade entourage which brought him to London, UK, in 2010.
He has also represented Malaysia in many international-level food fairs and competitions. Last year, the Penang government sent him to an international food fair in Manchester, UK.But despite being well-known for his expert tea-pulling skills, Jalil said he does not make much for a living as he keeps his charges low.
Entertaining hospital patients on Merdeka Eve
FMT also had the opportunity to accompany Jalil when he visited his wife Zarina Rani Mohamad Muhyiddin, 52, in hospital yesterday. She has been warded at the Penang General Hospital for the past two months because of a lung infection.
Jalil said that while there, he likes performing a mini version of his teh tarik skills outside the ward during visiting hours, as long as the nurses are agreeable.
“I figured, while I take care of my wife, I will entertain the patients who are recovering here,” he said.