Savour Scrumptious Punten And Coffee Amid Serene Padi Fields

By Syamsiah Sahat

IPOH, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Delight in the savoury flavours of punten, a traditional Javanese dish, complemented by a freshly brewed cup of coffee while soaking in the serene beauty of endless green padi fields. This unique experience awaits visitors at Punten N Coffee, a charming café nestled amidst the lush Seberang Perak FELCRA padi fields.

Despite its simplicity, this dish—reminiscent of rice balls served with green chili sambal—holds a rich history and serves as the centrepiece of the café operated by FELCRA Plantation Services Sdn Bhd's Padi Seed Centre.

"Historically, punten was a staple packed meal for farmers, carried along with traditional kampung coffee as they worked in the fields.

"To recreate the ambience and honour that legacy, we have made punten the signature dish of this café. However, the traditional kampung coffee has been modernised with trendy specialty coffee, expertly brewed by skilled baristas," said Head of FELCRA Padi Seed Centre, Mohd Fikri Roslan during a recent interview with Bernama.

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The establishment of Punten N Coffee, an open-concept café, was initiated by FELCRA Plantation Services Chairman, Datuk Dr Mohd Zaidi Md Zain. The initiative aims to utilise vacant lots effectively, preventing them from being idle while adding value to the company as part of its downstream projects.

"Alhamdulillah, since its opening in May, the café has achieved sales of over RM200,000," he shared.

"In addition to punten and coffee, the café offers a range of dishes, including donuts, keropok lekor (traditional fish crackers), Western cuisine, and other snacks. All of these are prepared by FELCRA participants and local residents," he said.

Mohd Fikri said the café has become a favourite spot for both locals and visitors from distant areas who discovered it through social media.

“The café provides a breathtaking backdrop, ideal for capturing memorable moments," he said, noting that TikTok posts showcasing the café’s scenic views have garnered 1.6 million views so far.

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"Most customers discover this café through reviews from previous visitors who dined here and captured memorable moments," he shared.

Mohd Fikri added the company plans to establish an educational centre focused on rice and padi cultivation, integrating an edu-tourism concept within the café area.

He said this aligns with the core business of FELCRA Plantation Services, which includes rice seed production and estate management, chemical and sampling laboratories, bio-input production, and agricultural consultancy services such as soil adjustment works, drone services, and mapping.

"Insya-Allah, with the approved allocation, we plan to expand this area to feature educational exhibits and additional recreational activities. In the next five years, we aim to transform this location into an agro-edu-tourism hub focused on agriculture, especially padi cultivation," he said.

The café operates from 12 pm to 7 pm and is closed on Mondays.

-- BERNAMA