But apart from this belief, the large citrus is also beneficial for health as it is a good source of vitamin C and fibre.
If you’re yearning to sink your teeth into a juicy chunk of pomelo, one stall to head to is Ezam Limau Bali Tambun, or number 23, one of the many shops along a long row near Sam Poh Tong temple in Ipoh.
Belonging to Heniyah Ismail, the pomelos here are juicy and delicious, a wonderfully refreshing treat on a hot day. Similarly, the guavas she sells are also fresh and sweet, making it hard to stop at just one bite.
But fruits are not all this shop sells. There are tidbits of every kind imaginable – peanuts, cookies, pickles, preserved nutmeg, rojak sauce, and dried jackfruit – arranged neatly, making it easy for customers to pick and choose.
For the many customers asking for “ikan pekasam” or fermented fish, Heniyah directs them to the correct shop – a generous act, given how stiff competition is in the area.
Sweet fruits, sweet hospitality
Speaking to FMT, Heniyah, 54, said that she runs the humble stall with her husband. “We have been here for the past 10 years. We previously operated a food stall nearby but decided to give this new business a try.”
According to her, the pomelos come from a farm in Tambun. “My husband goes there to collect the fruits. We like this supplier because the fruits are fresh and delicious. Our prices are also reasonable.”
For this couple, the hours are long, as they open as early as 8.00am and do not close until midnight. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, they stayed open even longer.
“Yes, I do feel tired, but we still need to earn a living to pay for our expenses,” she admitted, adding that they live in the vicinity.
She said that while business has been mostly good, the lockdowns took a toll on them – as it did with most small businesses in the country. But unlike many who closed their shops, she and her husband stayed open in the hope that the few tourists who did straggle by would buy a fruit or two.
Despite the long hours, she wears a warm smile and chats with every customer regardless of whether they are just browsing or stopping to buy something from her.
“After all, what’s the use of getting stressed? I believe we can still make a living here as God is with us, but we just have to be patient. I also do not believe in claiming that our fruits are the best. After all, who can tell what’s underneath the skin? It’s better to be humble.”
While the future remains economically uncertain for her, she said she is hoping for the best.
“I am already getting old, and I hope that my children can take over the business someday and grow it. I also hope that our economy will pick up,” she said, generously handing over a bag filled with fruits and snacks, insisting it was “on the house”.
Indeed, as one leaves Perak, the state known as the “abode of grace”, one can’t help but be charmed – not just by the sweet fruits this state produces but by the hospitality and grace of its residents like Heniyah.
Ezam Limau Bali Tambun
No 23, Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah
31350 Ipoh
Perak Darul Ridzuan
Business hours: 8.00am to 12.00am