WHEN Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg spoke about developing an orchid-based tea industry in Sarawak, there was something profoundly personal beneath the announcement.
It wasn’t just about economic innovation or tapping into the state’s biodiversity – it was about love, remembrance, and the kind of quiet legacy that speaks louder than any monument ever could.
He revealed that the idea stemmed from his late wife, Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, who had long enjoyed orchid-based tea.
It was she who once encouraged members of the Sarawak Orchid Society (SAROSO) to explore the possibility of turning orchids into beverages.
“You are the experts – why not look for orchids that can be turned into a beverage like tea? If white people can have Earl Grey tea and they have Jasmine tea, then we can produce tea based on our orchids,” she had told them.
That simple remark – perhaps spoken casually at the time – has now grown into something remarkable: an emerging industry that blends nature, innovation, and personal memory.
Abang Johari admitted that he hadn’t realised just how passionate his wife had been about the idea until recently.
He described it as one of her many thoughtful pursuits rooted in nature – a reflection of her gentle curiosity and love for life’s simple beauties.
After her passing, that quiet dream resurfaced, and the Premier decided to honour her memory in a way that not only celebrates who she was but also benefits the people of Sarawak.
In his words: “If there is Jasmine tea and Earl Grey tea, let us have our very own Sarawak Grey or Jasmine tea.”
It is, at once, a tribute and an invitation – to imagine a future where Sarawak’s own orchids become the next emblem of its natural wealth and creativity.
What makes this story even more touching is that it doesn’t end with him.
Their daughter, Dayang Norjihan Abang Johari, has stepped forward to continue her mother’s legacy.
Recently appointed as the new patron of SAROSO, Dayang Norjihan has taken an active role in furthering her late mother’s passion, working with local researchers, enthusiasts, and communities to bring the orchid-based tea project to life.
To me, this continuity is what makes the story so moving.
There’s something profoundly beautiful about a daughter carrying forward her mother’s dream – not out of obligation, but out of love and shared vision.
In every sense, it’s a story about roots and renewal – how something that began as one woman’s quiet idea has blossomed into a collective effort to honour her memory.
When I read about the project’s unveiling, I found myself reflecting on how love – expressed in the simplest gestures – can ripple outward and inspire change.
The late Puan Sri Juma’ani was known not just for her grace and kindness, but also for her passion for community development and her appreciation of nature.
To see her influence now taking shape in such a tangible way feels incredibly poetic.
The first orchid-based tea developed under this initiative features two native species – Arundina graminifolia (Bamboo Orchid) and Dendrobium crumenatum – both harvested sustainably and processed locally.
The tea, which is caffeine-free and free from artificial colouring, is produced by women, mothers, and retirees from community groups under SAROSO’s guidance.
In a world where so many products are mass-produced and detached from meaning, this one carries a story in every cup.
It’s a symbol of Sarawak’s biodiversity, women’s empowerment, and enduring love – all steeped together.
What stands out most to me is how deeply personal this initiative is for the Premier.
It’s not every day you see a leader turn something so intimate – a wife’s fondness for orchids and tea – into a public cause that benefits others.
There’s humility and tenderness in that decision, a quiet kind of strength that speaks volumes about who they both were as partners.
In one of his previous tributes, Abang Johari shared a story about his wife’s thoughtfulness.
He recalled how, after a formal dinner, he had risen to leave, prompting others to do the same – but she gently reminded him that not everyone had finished their meal.
That small moment, he said, captured her nature: considerate, grounded, and always thinking of others.
That same consideration now echoes through this new project.
It’s more than a business idea – it’s an ecosystem of remembrance and opportunity.
The orchid-based tea initiative not only introduces a new product to the market but also invites communities to participate in something meaningful.
It’s an avenue for local women to generate income, for Sarawak’s scientists to innovate, and for the state to position itself as a leader in biodiversity-based industries.
And yet, beyond all the policy implications, what makes it truly special is its emotional core.
It’s a story of family – of a husband remembering, a daughter continuing, and a community embracing.
It’s proof that legacy doesn’t have to be confined to memory; it can be something that grows, evolves, and nourishes others.
As I reflect on this, I think about how orchids themselves are symbols of strength and beauty – resilient flowers that thrive in diverse conditions.
In many ways, that mirrors the late Puan Sri Juma’ani’s influence and the values she left behind.
Through this project, her passion continues to bloom – not just in gardens, but in communities, in conversations, and now, in every sip of orchid tea brewed in her honour.
In the end, the orchid-based tea initiative is more than just a new product line for Sarawak.
It’s a heartfelt reminder that love can be transformative.
That a person’s quiet ideas, when nurtured by those who loved them, can take on lives of their own – enriching others in ways they may never have imagined.
For Sarawak, it’s a symbol of how tradition, memory, and innovation can coexist beautifully.
And for the Premier and his daughter, it’s a living legacy – one that ensures the late Puan Sri Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang’s spirit continues to bloom, one cup at a time.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at sarahhafizahchandra@gmail.com.
