Sa Teh (沙爹) = Satay

Date:  May 27, 2012 (see Disclaimer)

On the way from Ipoh to Setiawan, just before you pass by Iskandar town, there is this famous roadside satay store.

We passed by, and ah Gong (Grandpa) started to tell the story of "Satay".  I don't know is it true or not, but the kids love it.

He believe the Malay satay originally are from middle east, and it is a variation of Kebabs.

But he thinks that the word "Satay" is invented by Chinese.  In fact a Hokkien.

Long ago, when there is a lot of Malay selling 2-pieces of Kebabs in the market.

So, when a Chinese Hokkien guy arrived from China and have tasted it, he thinks that that it is a very nice taste for BBQ the beef, chicken, etc. Almost all the stores offer 2-pieces of meat on a stick.  So, he decided to do also do this business.  So, in order to promote his kebabs, and trying to compete with the strong Malay food stores, he decided to offer 3 pieces of meat on a stick (instead of 2).  Since he does not know how to speak Malay, so, he started to promote his 3 pieces meat as "Sa Teh" (Hokkien meanig of 3 pieces).  And he then, beciome very famos because of he uses special sweet sauce and peanut sauce on his BBQ meat... and the "Sa Teh" "Sa Teh" become what we known as "Satay".

So, if you count the meat of today Satay, it is really mostly 3 peices... which is "Sa Teh".

[Disclamer:  I am not sure whether the story is true or not true.  I just find it amusing and make lots of sense.]