Sarawakian Local Delights : Malau

Lac is the scarlet resinous secretion of a number of species of insects, namely some of the species of the genera Metatachardia, Laccifer,Tachordiella, Austrotacharidia, Afrotachardina, and Tachardina of the superfamily Coccoidea, of which the most commonly cultivated species isKerria lacca.

These are some of the popular host trees " rain tree, hibiscus, Barbados nut.
In India, lac dye is used for wool and silk. In China it is a traditional dye for leather goods. Today the use of lac for dye has been substituted by synthetic dyes.

In Sarawak, Ibans know where to collect lac in some trees in the secondary jungle. . It is used as a good wood glaze, giving wooden floors a good finish. Locally this sac or resin  is called MALAU in Iban. When the Ibans find the deposits on the trees, they will collect them and heat them to form a ball or a pellet like hard wax for future use  Malau is useful as an adhesive e.g. fixing parang handles etc.