White Cubed Sugar

The cube made its British debut in 1875, when Henry Tate, a grocer-turned-sugar magnate (and namesake founder of London’s Tate Gallery), bought the patent for a new cube-making process from a German named Eugen Langen. 


It made its presence felt in Limbang in 1974.


In 1974, the Yang diPertuan Agong and the Permaisuri paid an official visit to Limbang where I was teaching. They actually paid a visit to a longhouse, at that time, the home of Temenggong Ngang. Every one was busy preparing for their arrival.

The Education Department was to take care of the special tea for the King and Queen in the longhouse and the Education officers and teachers were tasked to buy everything that was necessary for the special tea.

One of the most interesting items was the cubed sugar which some of us had to buy from Brunei as it was not available in the small town. The team had to take a speedboat to the Brunei capital when it was found out the discovery was made.

As a result of that special visit, all housewives, from the length of the Limbang River, in the villages were very eager to have cubed sugar with their tea and coffee. Furthermore, they were introduced to the tongs which they would use to pick up the sugar cubes.

I often wonder if the shops supplying cubed sugar in Bandar Begawan ever ran out of cubed sugar from 1974 , for a few years.

The novelty of having cubed sugar was a very pleasant episode in my life.

By the way, I still buy a box of cubed sugar every now and then. Just for style. And I am not at all surprised when I see some cubed sugar in the long houses. It would mean that the hostesses were happy to get some for their guests.