Keeping the Tradition Alive

For Mareldiah, making koesisters is more than just a new skill; it’s the start of a beautiful journey back to her roots. Though she only began baking them a month ago, her story already carries generations of memory, love, and tradition.

It all began when she started selling twisties. Her customers loved them, but one question kept coming up: “Do you make koesisters?” At first, she laughed it off, unsure where to begin. But the requests kept coming, and eventually she decided to try drawing inspiration from her mother’s handwritten recipe, tucked away like a family treasure.

For Mareldiah, koesisters have always been part of life. Growing up, her father couldn’t start his morning without one, especially before heading out for a day of fishing. The smell of syrup and spice filled their home, blending with the sounds of laughter and Sunday morning chatter. To this day, that scent takes her back to those moments, warm, simple, and full of love.

When she made her first batch, she admits it didn’t go as planned. “It looked right, but something was missing,” she says. So, she kept trying. Four attempts later, she finally found her rhythm. Through patience and practice, she learned how to balance the syrup and spice just right. Sugaring was the hardest part at first, but now she’s perfected her own special techniques that make her koesisters stand out soft, golden, and coated with just the right amount of sweetness.

Sundays in her home were always koesister Sundays. It was a family ritual one that brought everyone to the kitchen table, no matter how busy the week had been. But over time, many of her aunties and older relatives stopped making them. For Mareldiah, that made it even more important to continue the tradition. She’s proud to pick up where they left off, carrying the flavours of her childhood into a new generation.

Each batch she makes is a blend of past and present her mother’s guidance, her father’s love for his morning treat, and her own touch of creativity. The process itself has become her Sunday joy: kneading the dough, shaping each twist, and watching them turn golden brown in the pan.

Now, with each order she fills, she feels more connected to her heritage. “It’s not just about selling koesisters,” she says softly. “It’s about keeping something alive, something that reminds us of who we are.”

She’s excited and a little nervous to share her creations with her family again to see if her version lives up to the ones she remembers from childhood. But one thing is certain: with every batch she makes, Mareldiah isn’t just baking sweets. She’s baking memories, heritage, and love, keeping a family tradition alive, one syrupy twist at a time.