Ever since Zayn Malik’s recent interview with British Vogue, Malaysians have been raving about his use of the nostalgic Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa medicine, also known as Ubat Cap Ibu dan Anak. This sparked an online debate, with netizens correcting the British singer by pointing out that the medicine is actually a cough syrup and not honey. While Zayn’s comments weren’t entirely accurate, he wasn’t completely off the mark either.
Its sweet and minty flavour makes it popular among Malaysians, especially for young kids who prefer it over bitter cough syrups.To maintain a steady supply and high quality, Nin Jiom grows the traditional Chinese herb Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau in Tibet, China. The syrup was so effective that they decided to mass-produce it, naming it Nim Jiom, meaning “memory of mother.” The logo, showing a son serving his mother, was inspired by this story.During the Sino-Japanese War, the Yang family fled to Hong Kong and later Brazil, selling the recipe to Hong Kong practitioner Tse Siu-bong to preserve it.