TUMPAT: Salted queenfish (ikan talang) has gained popularity in Kelantan.
If before this, the salted talang fish was only popular among locals, since early this year, it has also attracted those outside Kelantan.
One of the stalls selling salted talang fish is in Kampung Geting near Pengkalan Kubor here.
Shopowner Wan Safiah Wan Yusuf said she sells the salted fish at RM25 per kg.
"Before this, I could hardly sell the salted fish because not everyone likes to eat it, but since early this year, many have begun asking for the fish when they visit my shop.
"They told me that the salted fish from the talang type tastes different from other types of fish. It's really delicious when cooked with curry dishes," said Wan Safiah.
Known as Kak Yah among locals, the 43-year-old said she believes the financial problems faced by people following the Covid-19 pandemic forced them to look for cheaper salted fish.
"Some of my customers mostly from other states, told me that they would rather buy the salted fish than fresh meat to save money during this pandemic," said the mother of six.
Wan Safiah who operates the shop since five years ago, claimed that she was able to sell between five or six salted talang fish a day of late.
The salted talang weighed one kg and above and she obtained the fresh fish from a supplier in Pantai Sabak.
Due to its popularity, Wan Safiah decided to go online to sell the salted talang fish and other products.
"With the help of my 44-year-old husband Amran Manaa and my children, we sell various types of salted fish including gelama and selar as well as budu (fish sauce) online," she said.