Motif Asam Tampuk (Bunga Asam Gelugor)

Motif Asam Tampuk

The motif is named Asam Tampuk to recognize its distinct sour characteristic and pay tribute to its original name. The word ‘tampuk’ demonstrates how the flower expresses itself boldly through a central red reign.

A full combination of the plant is delivered through a mirroring reflective pattern with the base infinity or the number ‘8’ flow and to strengthen its presence; the curled leaves coming out at the center of each end-forming like a cupping motion demonstrates its nurturing nature while enhancing the overall look aesthetically.

When the motif is arranged repeatedly, multiple ribbon like images will emerge creating a synchronized energy to align everything together.

Asam Gelugor Asam Kandis
Dihiris-hiris banyak khasiatnya
Cantik bujur wajahnya manis
Manis lagi hati budinya

Asam Gelugor Asam Kandis
Sliced gently benefits greatly
Beautiful mi amore, gleaming in peace
Her kindness more beautiful ever lovely

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Bunga Asam Gelugor

Garcinia atroviridis, known as asam gelugur, asam gelugo or asam keping is a large rainforest tree native to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatera. Growing wild throughout peninsular Malaysia, it is also widely cultivated in the northern states due to its economic and medicinal values.

This species is a large perennial plant commonly found in evergreen forest in the southern region of Thailand and Malaysia. Also known as as tamarind, when dried and sliced, it is used as one of the most essential cooking condiments in Malaysian cuisine.

Its leaves and flowers have a combination of umami, with slight sour bitter taste while the fruit is sour when eaten. Both the fruit and its shoot possess a cooling characteristic. The tree can grow up to 15 meters in height with strong, sturdy taproot, while the bark is hard and slightly greyish.
Asam Gelugur has singular, large, oval dark green leaves with glistening, smooth surface when mature and red when still young.

The flowers bloom in between the months of March and May with red yellowish petals bursting from the center of the leaves. Asam gelugor’s fruits transform from light green into yellowish orange when ripe with various shapes ranging from round, oval and oblong weighing between 100 – 700 grams a piece. It comes in 12 – 16 folds and is very sour in nature with hard seeds.

This tree possesses high herbal properties stemming from its leaves, its flowers and its fruits for alternative medicine usage to treat various illnesses. Asam gelugor contains potent ascorbic acid that is antibacterial in nature and has been traditionally used for diabetic, high blood pressure, heart diseases, weight management, appetite reduction due to its antioxidant property.

While the juice of Asam gelugur can reduce cholestrol level in the body, its shoots can be eaten raw like salads or slightly boiled eaten with sambal belacan, cencaluk or budu and used as condiments in Nasi Kerabu or Ulam.

Having it as a motif to reflect Malaysia’s identity is truly accurate when we reflect on the qualities it possesses. A plant that serves greatly by nature and is an essential ingredient in Malaysian kitchen while used immensely for healing purposes; deserves such recognition.