[Feature] Ais Tingkap: How a Royal Dessert Became a Modern Malaysian Sensation

The Corporate Snapshot

In the bustling landscape of Malaysian F&B startups, Ais Tingkap stands out not just for its product, but for its story. Founded by the husband-and-wife duo of Mohd Syafiq and Nurul Ain, the company has embarked on a mission to resurrect and popularise a forgotten gem of Malay culinary heritage: the Ais Tingkap, a shaved ice dessert once reserved for royalty in the Terengganu palace.

• 🏢 Entity: Ais Tingkap Sdn Bhd
• 🎯 Area of Expertise: Heritage Food & Beverage (F&B), Consumer Retail
• 📍 Market Status: Niche Market Leader & Cultural Revitaliser

The Scoop: What's New?

The brand, which began as a passion project, has successfully transitioned into a scalable business with a growing physical and digital footprint. From a single stall, Ais Tingkap now operates multiple kiosks in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, with plans for further expansion. Their key growth driver has been a savvy social media strategy that turned the visually striking, rose-syrup-drenched dessert into an Instagram sensation. The founders report a 300% increase in sales year-on-year since their formal launch, and they have successfully bottled and retailed their signature rose syrup ("Air Sirap Raja") nationwide, creating a secondary revenue stream.

Executive Insights: The Conversation

Speaking with the founders, it's clear their venture is driven by more than profit. Mohd Syafiq, who handles operations, explained that the initial challenge was modernising the recipe without losing its soul. "The original Ais Tingkap uses shaved ice from a block, coconut milk, and a specific rose syrup. We had to find a way to maintain that authentic texture and flavour while ensuring consistency and speed for a commercial setting," he shared. The solution involved custom ice-shaving machines and a rigorous sourcing process for ingredients like pandan and rose water.

Nurul Ain, the creative force behind branding, emphasized the power of narrative. "We're not just selling a dessert; we're selling a piece of history, a taste of royalty," she said. This story-first approach informed everything from their packaging—which features elegant illustrations of the Terengganu palace—to their social media content, which educates followers about the dessert's origins. When asked about competition in the crowded dessert market, she was confident: "Our uniqueness is our authenticity. No one else owns this story."

Professional Highlights & Track Record

• Cultural Preservation to Commercial Success: Successfully transformed a near-extinct royal recipe into a commercially viable and widely recognised consumer brand.
• Product Line Extension: Innovated beyond the core dessert to launch a bottled syrup product, "Air Sirap Raja," now available in major supermarkets across Malaysia.
• Strategic Digital Footprint Built a massive organic following on TikTok and Instagram, using viral food content to drive foot traffic and brand awareness without significant advertising spend.
• Retail Expansion: Scaled from one market stall to multiple fixed-location kiosks in high-traffic urban areas within two years, demonstrating strong unit economics and replicability.
• Media Recognition: Featured in numerous local television programs, newspapers, and digital publications as a standout example of heritage entrepreneurship.

The Verdict

Ais Tingkap is a textbook case of how deep cultural insight, when paired with modern business acumen, can create a powerful and defensible brand. They have identified a white space in the market—heritage desserts with a premium narrative—and executed with clarity. Their growth is a testament to the market's appetite for authentic stories and unique experiences. The main challenge ahead will be maintaining quality and the "special" feel as they scale further.

• 📈 Market Impact: 8/10
• 💡 Innovation Level: 7/10
• 🚀 Growth Potential: 9/10

"Ais Tingkap proves that in business, the richest ingredients are often found not in a warehouse, but in the pages of history."