To make a living, it depends on the weather. The second generation successor of Hup Teck Soy Sauce, Mr Low Pak Tong says casually while pointing at hundreds of ancient soy sauce earthen jars in the courtyard and looking up towards the sky. This well-established octogenarian brand of housemade soy sauce located in Gopeng, Hup Teck Soy Sauce, has been taken over by the third generation since its launch. During all these years, the family-run business still insisted on using pure and natural resources as well as traditional production methods, genuinely handmade, the entire process time-consuming and laborious.
A jar of soy sauce needs to be exposed beneath the hot sun for three months, the thick caramel soy sauce requires up to six months duration. Each day, the lid needs to be removed for the fermented soybeans to be exposed to the sun. If the weather is cloudy or rainy, the lid must be put on immediately to prevent contact with water. During rainy seasons, the exposure process needs to be extended for a few more weeks.
Hup Teck Soy Sauce is only sold in its own retail outlet, and is not sold out-station or exported. The glass bottles containing the soy sauce are continually reused, and therefore did not bear any labels or branding. Over the years, their reputation was built up by word-of-mouth and good quality, attracting the support of regulars as well as customers abroad who would pay a visit to their premises.
Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen
有你 UNI Production
Producer : Mok Yii Chek
Coordinator : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang
Video Editor : Evon Pang
Music : Emmas Waltz from Felt Music
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