SHARING HERBAL WISDOM – Consumers Association Penang

CAP’s Green Action Week 2026 Programme

*Culantro sauce (left) and Mint sauce (right)*

On 3 October 2026, CAP held a programme at our premises in conjunction with Green Action Week 2026. The theme for this year is “Sharing Herbal Wisdom”.

Participants who joined the programme learnt how to use common herbs in daily life and how to prepare delicious recipes using natural herbs. The programme focused on understanding common kitchen herbs, their traditional values, and their various uses.

The programme began with Saraswathi Devi Odian, CAP’s Education Officer, who introduced the session and explained the value and importance of herbs in modern living.

Curry leaves, pandan leaves, kaffir lime leaves, culantro, lemongrass, mint leaves, and coriander were introduced, and their values and uses were explained to the participants. Participants were encouraged to smell the aroma and fragrances of these herbs, experiencing the natural scents of the plants.

*The 5 types of herbal drinks prepared.*

*Participants enjoying the snacks prepared*.

As additional information, the benefits and uses of ginger, turmeric, and garlic were also shared with the participants.

Participants also had the opportunity to watch live demonstrations on preparing five types of herbal drinks using butterfly pea flowers, red hibiscus flowers, serai, kaffir lime leaves, mint leaves, and curry leaves.

As the highlight of Green Action Week 2026, participants had the opportunity to watch a live demonstration of making culantro sauce using almonds, red onion, green chilli, sesame oil, and salt according to taste. A mint sauce was also prepared using tomato, garlic cloves, ginger, green chilli, lime juice, and salt by Kumuthasshri Ponniah, CAP’s Research Officer.

The participants enjoyed tasting the sauces together with their snacks during the break. They were also served chickpea salad as well.

The importance of this Green Action Week session was to revive and preserve the valuable traditional knowledge passed down through our cultures and generations. It is important to continue practising and sharing this knowledge; otherwise, these valuable traditions may disappear from our lives forever.

As the final part of the session, “Shape Malaysia’s Clean Energy Future!” was conducted. This survey explored how Malaysia can transition from fossil fuels such as coal to clean energy sources such as solar power.

The survey was conducted by Vatsala, CAP’s intern, and participants were invited to complete the form, which took only 5-10 minutes.

Packets of seeds and herbs were shared with the participants.