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Kuih Lapis is a heavily spiced buttery sweet layered cake derived from the multi faceted Indo ( Dutch-Indonesian) cuisine. Many aficionados in the South East Asian regions of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia fondly refer this local delicacy as the thousand-layer cake. The heavenly but sinfully rich taste is the product of alternating batter made from a large quantity of eggs, butter, sugar, and spices that is grilled under a hot oven to yield approximately 12-18 layers of yellow-and-brown sensory delight, hence its making is an extremely time-consuming and expensive ($NZ50-60) affair. For this reason, Kuih Lapis is best enjoyed in thin slivers with a good cup of fresh coffee ( Figure 1).
 * **INTRODUCTION **

Note that the Indonesian Kuih Lapis (Spekkoek) is dissimilar to the Peranakans Kuih Lapis which is a steamed coconut based version.


 * **HISTORICAL BACKGROUND **

The aromatic spices in Kuih Lapis owed its origin from the Spice Trade hundreds of years ago (5). __**The European Age of Discovery **__ In 1602, the Dutch founded the Dutch East India Company to trade directly with the East. They gained autonomous colonisation of Indonesia-the world's largest archipelago of 17,000+ islands. The Maluku islands were historically known by both Europeans and Chinese as the Spice Islands which were once the only source of spices in the world such as cloves, mace, and nutmeg, whereas cinnamon was cultivated in the Java and Sumatra islands. Given that these spices were very valuable, the Dutch had monopoly of the spice trade for nearly 350 years as shown in Figure 2 (6).
 * [[image:kuihlapis/Dutch_Empire_2.png width="387" height="222" caption="Figure 2: Map of the Dutch Empire"]] || [[image:kuihlapis/Indonesia_map.png width="453" height="263" caption="Figure 3: Detailed map of Indonesia with neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia"]] ||

The Dutch penchant for spiced desserts can be seen in their biscuit ‘speculaas', and spekkoek. Spekkoek was thought to originate from a Dobosh torte, a cake created by a well-known Hungarian confectioner (Dobos,JC) in 1884, and travelled to Germany via the Habsburgers' dynasty and reworked as a baumkuchen (German translated "tree cake") (7). In the Netherlands, the cake became known as spekkoek-meaning bacon cake presumably due to the resemblance of the pork belly stripes which contained spek (lard in Dutch), a common ingredient in those days. Spekkoek was subsequently introduced in Indonesia during the Dutch administration by Dutch nyonya (7).
 * **DEVELOPMENT OF KUIH LAPIS**
 * [[image:kuihlapis/dutch_speculas.jpg width="182" height="141" caption="Figure 4: A Dutch "Speculaas""]] || [[image:kuihlapis/Dobos_cake.jpg width="231" height="149" caption="Figure 5: A slice of Dobosch Torte"]] || [[image:kuihlapis/Baumkuchen,dresden,Deutschland.jpg width="230" height="153" caption="Figure 6: The German's Baumkuchen"]] || [[image:kuihlapis/spiku.jpg width="226" height="156" caption="Figure 7: A slice of Kek Spiku"]] ||

Given that Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country of approximately 87% (8) of whom pork is taboo, the local bakers at that time changed the spek ingredient into mentega (butter) ,and added their own 'bumbu spekkuk' (spekkoek spice)-a popular mix spices of cinnamon, clove, mace and anise resulting in a much spicier and sweeter version. Then, in the last 25 years or so, the name spekkoek was changed into Lapis Legit (also called Lapis Surabaya; Spiku or Kek Lapis Batavia in some Indonesian cities) as literally translated to “layered stickiness”(7). In an interesting twist, it could also be that prohibition of eating pork in a Muslim country required the Indonesian themselves to rename Spekkoek to Lapis Legit to dissociate with any anatomical terms belonging to a pig.

Today, Lapis Legit masquerades elsewhere as Kek Lapis Sarawak made to mirror the traditional weaving patterns of this Malaysian state, and in Singapore as Kuih Lapis ( Malay translate as Layer Cake).
 * **MODERN VERSION OF KUIH LAPIS **

In Singapore and Malaysia, Kuih Lapis is popular amongst the Malay and Chinese community during Hari Raya Eid al-Fitr and Chinese New Year respectively. During these social gatherings, there are much feasting and social interaction that revolves around their traditional customs. For example, Muslims usually attend morning prayers in the mosque, and then gather with families and close friends for a feast of thanksgiving of traditional food including specially made cakes and biscuits (17).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In Netherlands, spekkkoek is traditionally served as a dessert in rijsttafel ( Dutch for `rice-table’), an Indonesian banquet serving a great variety of small Indonesian dishes (2).


 * [[image:kuihlapis/SarawakLayerCakesSeriBalas1.jpg width="225" height="176" caption="Figure 8: Kek Lapis Sarawak"]] || [[image:kuihlapis/220px-Spekkoek_naturel_en_pandan.jpg width="224" height="169" align="center" caption="Figure 9: Spekkoek Plain & Pandan"]] || [[image:kuihlapis/Lapis-cake.jpg width="209" height="198" align="center" caption="Figure 10: Pune Lapis Legit"]] || [[image:kuihlapis/cranberryKL.jpg width="225" height="199" caption="Figure 11: Kuih Lapis Cranberry"]] ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A traditional Lapis Legit (20x20cm size) may contain up to 30 egg yolks, half a kilo butter, and 400g sugar (2). These ingredients when added to food encourage weight gain because they are high in kilojoules. Moreover, dietary fats and cholesterol can affect blood cholesterol levels, and an elevated blood cholesterol level is a risk factor for heart diseases according to the New Zealand Healthy Heart Foundation (19).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Contains nearly two-thirds of saturated fat. High consumption of saturated fat is associated with increased risks of heart disease and some cancers (19).
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">BUTTER **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The American Heart Association dietary recommendation for cholesterol intake for the general public i.e., those individuals without high LDL-cholesterol and/or heart diseases, is less than 300mg/day (20). Egg yolks contain high amount of cholesterol-a large egg has approximately 215mg, hence can contribute to heart risk increase, wherefore the recommended limit is 3 eggs per week (19).
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">EGG **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Provides sweetness, colour, flavour and texture to food, thus improving their taste and palatability. However, food with added sugar are high in kilojoules, and contains few nutrients, thus intake should be limited. The recommended limit is 1-3 tablespoons per day (19).
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">SUGAR **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a.k.a common table salt. The World Health Organization global goal is to reduce salt intake to less than 5g (2000mg sodium) per day by 2025. High sodium intakes are strongly associated with increased blood pressure, risk of CVD and gastric cancer (21).
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">SODIUM **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Add a flavourful dimension and many have medicinal qualities. For example, cinnamon is reputed to improve the action of insulin in diabetics, as yet to be proven in clinical trials, while cloves are used in medicinal and dental preparations (22, 23).
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">SPICES **


 * Table 1: Nutritional Information as per shortcut to Spekkoek recipe (18) **
 * ** Serving Size: 1 (1078 g) ** || **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Amount Per Serving ** || **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">% Daily Value ** ||
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Calories <span class="calories" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">3663.8 **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Calories from Fat 2102 ** || **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">57% ** ||
 * **<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Total Fat ** **<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">233.6 ** **<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;"> g **
 * **<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Saturated Fat <span class="saturatedfat" style="color: red; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">132.8 <span class="type" style="color: red; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;"> g ** || **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">359% **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">664% ** ||
 * **<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Cholesterol <span class="cholesterol" style="color: red; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">2348.0 <span class="type" style="color: red; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;"> mg ** || **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">782% ** ||
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sodium <span class="value" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">2493.3 <span class="type" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;"> mg ** || **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">103% ** ||
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Total Carbohydrate <span class="carbohydrates" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">322.1 <span class="type" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;"> g ** || **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">107% ** ||
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Dietary Fibre <span class="fiber" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">7.1 <span class="type" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;"> g ** || **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">28% ** ||
 * **<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Sugars <span class="fiber" style="color: red; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">218.0 <span class="type" style="color: red; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;"> g ** || **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">872% ** ||
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Protein <span class="protein" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">78.2 <span class="type" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;"> g ** || **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">156% ** ||  ||  **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Shortcut to Spekkoek recipe __**  <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">10 egg yolks  <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">250g butter  <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">1 cups each of sugar and flour  <span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">ground spice mix :  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom and clov ||

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ethnically, Singapore’s population is primarily Chinese, with a minority of Malays, Indians and other groups that gave a distinctive blend to the local cuisine with input from the western food culture (24). Eating is highly regarded as a national pastime and food is a national obsession (25).
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MODERN CONSUMPTION IN SINGAPORE **


 * [[image:saturated_fat_5.jpg width="322" height="261" caption="Figure 12 :Proportion of adult Singaporeans exceeding WHO dietary recommendations;1998& 2004 "]] || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The 2004 survey noted that almost 39% of the total fat in the average adult diet was saturated fat which was higher than the WHO recommended intake of saturated fat (no more than one third of total dietary fat) (26).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For example, Malays (mostly descendants of post-1945 immigrants from Indonesia and Malaysia) have a diet high in saturated fat, owing to their love for richly spiced/coconut based cuisine. They also indulge in kuih-muih eaten as morning/midday snacks, and during festive occasions (27). Thus far, Malays had the highest intake - 42.4% of their total dietary fat contributed by saturated fat when compared to the other ethnic groups (28). ||

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Acording to the 2006 census of ethnic groups in New Zealand, the Chinese are its largest ethnic community numbering 139,728, whilst Dutch, Indonesian and Malay populations are an estimated 28641, 3261 and 3540 respectively (29,30,31,32), and their cuisines are well established. As Kuih Lapis is already well known in these communities, commercialisation may help to improve its profile here. Otherwise, Kuih Lapis can be enjoyed as a home-baked product due to the trend of New Zealand's increasingly 'baking culture' where baked products are marks of hospitality (32). <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At present, Restaurant Indonesia in Napier which serves its famous rijsttafel has a dessert option of a sliced piece of Spekkoek costing NZ$3.00 (33).
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**AVAILABILITY IN NEW ZEALAND**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kuih Lapis is high in calories,saturated fat and cholesterol.These are contributing risk factors for conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease(19). <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In Healthy Heart Foundation(NZ), "A Guide to Heart Healthy Eating",one of their nine steps suggests to //"Mostly avoid or rarely include, butter......//and //only occasionally choose sweet bakery products"//. For example, cakes are usually high in saturated fat and contribute to raised cholesterol levels, changes in blood vessels, and weight gain (19). However, given that Kuih Lapis is usually served sliced thinly and eaten occasionally, the amount of saturated fat consumed is probably insignificant to affect the health of the general population. However, people with high LDL-cholesterol and/or heart diseases may need to exercise caution to be within their total consumption of cholesterol intake (19).
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">HEALTH BENEFITS **


 * [[image:kuihlapis/canola_oil_3.jpg caption="Figure 13 :Relative proportion of SFAs, MUFAs & PUFAs "]] || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Butter can be substitute with Flora spread containing canola oil which is very low in saturated fat but high in mono- and poly-unsaturated fats that can help lower blood cholesterol (see figure 13) (19).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Using less egg yolks, sugar, and salt can also substantially decrease the amount of saturated fat, cholesterol and calories. In addition, Kuih Lapis is kept wholesome sans preservatives, artificial colouring nor additives. ||

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Moreover, accompanying beverages such as tea or coffee are equally important, and reputedly carries health benefits. In traditional Chinese medicine, drinking green tea is recommended for the prevention of ill health, and a daily health practice throughout Asia (34). Evidence from clinical trials suggests that green tea has a role in metabolic syndrome in influencing body weight, glucose homeostasis, and cardiovascular risk factors, however is not proven conclusively (35,36).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">According to Garcia et al 2008, it was suggested that moderation in coffee drinking for the general population has no apparent detrimental health effects, and may confer protection against cardiovascular disease (37).


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**CONCLUSION**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kuih Lapis can be thought of as an original East meets West delicacy that has been embraced mainly by the Dutch, Indonesian, Singaporean and Malaysian population. In New Zealand, this cake is still a rare commodity, only made available through these immigrants minority, thus commercialisation may help the public here to enjoy the taste of the "King of all Spice cakes". Nutritionally, Kuih Lapis is an artery-clogged cake, but the potential harm to the health is acceptably minimal because of the laborious, costly investment and dainty serving sizes. Having said that, the benefits like fostering closer ties with friends and families through sharing this decadent cake is just too good to be missed!

> Available from [] > [] > [] > [|http://www.food.com/recipe/spekkoek-thousand-layer-spice-cake-144748#ixzz1s0Y1La64] > [|http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/chinese/7] > [] > Available from [|http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/indonesians/3]
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