This is a video on how the Penans of Sarawak harvest the ‘Umbut’ or ‘heart’ of a type of palm tree. The natives of Sarawak has relied on the jungle for food, shelter and almost everything they need to survive. I am fortunate to be able to record this to share with everyone.
NOTE: This ‘Umbut’ harvest was done to obtain food to a group that was traveling in the interior jungles of Sarawak and NOT to produce this video.
Continue reading other parts of this adventure below:
- First time in Miri Town, Sarawak
- Wild durian & Kolok mee at Miri.
- 5 hours on a 4WD into interior off Miri.
- Unique local houses in Sarawak interior.
- Smoked wild boar…nice!
- Loooong hike to look for an elusive waterfall.
- Sarawak river boats and a raging river.
- Jungle vines and rattan used in the jungles of Sarawak.
- Umbut or heart of palm tasting, first experience.
- Harvesting of the umbut by the Penan.
- Malat & Penat; the Penan’s blades.
- Kitchen in a traditional house.
- Video on jungle kitchen & feather stick making.
Click here to read about another rainforest adventure in Semban, Sarawak.
Love the river. Bet it hold a lot of Subaraus.
Never taste this type of umbut. Wonder how does it taste. Is it taste like coconut umbut? Malay villagers cook coconut umbut with coconut milk, tumeric leaves and anchovies. But this dish only found when ‘kenduri’ or when a coconut tree need to be cut down.
Hi Fyda…a friend was telling me about the way Malays cook umbut. I have attended a few kenduris but I guess kenduris in big cities never have such delicacy as umbut
What more to find enough coconut trees around 
Haha… yes. No umbut found in kenduris in a big cities. Anyway, wish i can try this jungle palm’s (i think it’s sugar palm, isnt it?) umbut. This vid is very informative and all the web contents. Congrats to u Mr Keong!
Okay Fyda…I will try to crash into a kenduri soon and see if I can find a kari umbut
Actually the umbut in the video (I think) is from a tree very similar to what is called bayas or nibong here. I think it is more like Bayas
Thank you for your comments, much appreciated.