BINTULU — CRAUNERA, a new gluten-free sago cookie produced by CRAUN Research Sdn Bhd, is positioning itself as a culinary ambassador of Sarawak by blending traditional ingredients with modern innovation.
Developed by the state-backed research agency, CRAUNERA cookies transform locally sourced sago starch a naturally gluten-free, neutral-tasting staple of Sarawakian cuisine into a refined, crispy snack via carefully engineered recipes.
This product aligns with CRAUN’s broader mission to elevate sago through innovative research and commercialization.
CRAUN, established in 1993 and corporatised in 1997, serves under the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Research and Biotechnological Council. The institution’s vision is to lead crop and product research, particularly focused on sago.
CRAUNERA comes in several variants—Original (oatmeal-style), Matcha, and Chocolate—each reflecting a contemporary twist on Sarawak’s food heritage, especially among Melanau communities, where sago-based snacks like the traditional tebaloi are culturally significant.
Tebaloi is made from sago flour, coconut, sugar, and eggs, shaped, dried, and fired to achieve crispiness—a delicacy particularly renowned in areas like Mukah and Dalat.
The cookies also underscore CRAUN’s role in modernizing the sago value chain. Beyond CRAUNERA, the institution has developed low-GI sago bars aimed at blood glucose regulation and other sago by-products enhancing health-oriented applications.
CRAUNERA’s venture into international markets has already begun. The product was featured at Fine Food New Zealand 2025 Oceania’s largest biennial food trade event presented by IANA Corporation Sdn Bhd in collaboration with CRAUN Research. The showcase drew interest from health-forward consumers and trade partners exploring gluten-free options.
Moreover, CRAUN-supported initiatives are evaluating the appeal of sago gluten-free cookies in the U.S. market as part of a broader push to promote health-conscious Malaysian specialties abroad.
CRAUNERA is packaged in compact, stable containers designed for ease of travel, making it ideal as a cultural gift, souvenir, or everyday indulgence.
Through its elegant branding and rootedness in Sarawak’s sago heritage, it offers both local authenticity and global readiness.
CRAUNERA exemplifies how regional research and tradition can intersect to produce food innovations with international resonance—sharing Sarawak’s culinary story in every bite.
