It has been a great Ramadan for preserved and dried fish maker Nor Azreena Mohd Nor as demand for her products, a delicacy among the Kelantanese, is at its peak.
Nor Azreena, 37, who has been in the business since the first Movement Control Order last year, said she started with about 50kg, but the amount had risen to 150kg since the start of Ramadan.
She said the idea of selling preserved fish came after she sat down to think of ways to increase her family's income during the pandemic.
"It's really surprising. I didn't expect the response would be this good.
"During the fasting month, preserved fish makes a great appetiser when breaking your fast and for the pre-dawn meal. It can be very tasty when cooked with just onions and chillies with a squeeze of lime," she said at her stall in Kampung Berangan along Jalan Kota Baru-Ketereh, here.
Nor Azreena said her business now had two branches — in Kadok and Tanah Merah — and she employed seven workers to clean and prepare the fish before they were brined overnight.
"The next day, the salt water is removed and the fish is then soaked in plain water for four hours to remove the excess salt. After that, they are dried for three to five hours, depending on the weather.
"Once the fish are dried, they are refrigerated as this will allow them to last for up to three weeks," said Nor Azreena, who has a business degree from the International Islamic University Malaysia.
Nor Azreena gets her fish from suppliers in Tok Bali, Pasir Puteh Geting, Tumpat, Jelawat and Bachok,
"For the preserved fish, gelama bongkok, gelama gigi, cencaru, layur, talang, selar kuning and butir nako are used. For dried fish, I would choose tambang, stingray, pelata and bulu ayam."
She added that her products were priced from RM18 to RM45 per kg depending on the fish.
Nor Azreena said she had requests for her products from overseas, such as Britain and Saudi Arabia, but she had to put the plan on hold due to some constraints, such as shipping costs, keeping the product fresh and packaging.
"However, to meet the demand from customers outside Kelantan, I have 20 to 30 agents nationwide," said the mother of seven, who gets great support from her civil servant husband, Muhammad Ai'Amin Mohamad Kasim, also 37.
Customer Tuan Jusoh Tuan Dollah, 50, from Pasir Puteh, said he loves the taste and texture of the fish, and it goes well with hot rice.
"Preserved fish has been a traditional food, and usually during the fasting month people need something to whet their appetite, especially after waking up for sahur," he said. Bernama