KUALA LUMPUR: With two large metal cups in each hand, he pirouetted, did a jig and “stretched” the brew to great lengths – without spilling a drop.
That was the “pull” factor that won businessman Syed Khaidhir Syed Abdullah Al-Attas the title ‘King of Teh Tarik’ at the Malaysia Culture Festival (FBM) in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa.
Not to be outdone, petite Nik Zakirah Nik Aziz performed a little jig in her maroon kebaya while “pulling” her tea to dance away with the title of ‘Teh Tarik Queen’.
Syed Khaidhir, 46, from Johor, won RM300 with his creative style but he was spending much more than that.
“I have opened a booth here and I am giving away teh tarik to visitors to the festival. I like entering this kind of competition because I have a special interest in it,” he said.
“I am happy to have won the competition and am looking forward to entering more such contests.”
Nik Zakirah, 28, from Bangsar, said she found out about the competition through a friend.
“I feel so excited to have won because I practised for two days to perfect my act. Teh tarik is life,” she said.
Student K. Nagavathini, 26, from Balakong, Selangor, also impressed by doing a Psy Gangnam Style dance while showing off her teh tarik skills and placed third.
A brewing art: Teh Tarik King & Queen competition winners Syed Khaidir (left) with Nik Zakirah posing for a photo during FBM in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa. — AZMAN GHANI/ The Star
She said she decided to take part after seeing a poster at the festival.
“As a tea lover, I thought it would be interesting to join the competition. I can also gain a little experience on how to ‘tarik’.
“Teh tarik is special for Malaysians as it connects people from all walks of life.”
She added the competition was indeed an excellent way to gather people at the festival in a fun way.
Customer relationship officer Ahmad Kasidi Ismail, 36, from here, got to know about the competition via WhatsApp.
Although he didn’t win, just being able to be part of festivities was very encouraging.
“I am a fan of teh tarik and I thought why not challenge myself to see if I can tarik,” he said.
Among the many spectators, Teng Ann, 31, came with her family from Johor just to see the festival.
“The performances by the participants were cute and I never knew there was such a teh tarik competition. All of them had unique skills. Teh tarik is a very Malaysian trait. It is the drink everyone enjoys while watching a football game and at a gathering of friends,” she said.
A total of 20 men and women took part in the competition held by Badan Warisan Malaysia in collaboration with OKI Malaysia.
They were judged by the longest “tarik” (style and cleanliness), froth and no spill, creativity as well as confidence.
The winners from both the men and women categories were given RM300 (1st place), RM200 (2nd) and RM100 (3rd). The participants were all visitors of the festival and not full-time teh tarik sellers.
