Rearch on the utensil use in the kitchen

Kamcheng

· Hokkien term “Covered jar”
· Medium and large was use for storing water, serving rice, pickles, soup and other food.
· Small one was use as container for cosmetics
· Blue and white are served more utilitarian purposes ( store oil, salt, rice)
· Best quality is display during weddings ( use to serve sweetmeats to bride and groom )
· Array of different colour was use in the tok panjang ( add liveliness to festivities )
· Laid on providing generously for the guests
· The custom of sharing the kamcheng came with an expectation that this empty vessels were retune with delicious food.
· Acquired more values as family heirlooms.



Chupu

· Use for serving special food such as bird’s nest soup and kueh ee ( rice balls in spyrup )
· Symbolic of marital harmony ( wedding and birthday )
· Bride and groom customarily served these food to each other in recognition of their marital duties
· Herbal soup as tonic on his nightly visite to the bride room



Mortars and Grinders
· Ingredients and spices used in Peranakan cooking, have to be crushed, pounded ( release natural fragrance or to mill then to the correct consistency )
· Separation of the mortat and petal was unlucky ( cause disunity in household )
· Matchmaker and prospective mother-in-law would listen to the sound of a young nonya pounding ( know whether she is a good cook )
· Sound of the rhythmic pounding of the rempah, distinguish a practiced hand from the kitchen novice.



Cake Mould
· Use specially for Kueh Bolu (eaten during Chinese new year )
· Craft out the shape
· Ensure freshness, it is make close to the first day of the new year