How Many Calories in Tepung Pelita?

Tepung Pelita is a two-layer steamed kuih, green pandan bottom and salted coconut milk on top, served in a small banana-leaf cup and basically a Ramadan bazaar staple.

105kcal / 1 piece (small banana-leaf cup)

One cup of Tepung Pelita is around 105 calories. That's for a 75g piece, the standard small banana-leaf cup size you get at the bazaar. It sounds low until you realise nobody eats just one.

Nutrition facts

Per 1 piece (small banana-leaf cup) (75g)	Amount	Per 100g
Calories	105 kcal	140 kcal
Protein	1 g	1 g
Carbs	15 g	20 g
Fat	6 g	8 g

Where the calories come from

Coconut milk (santan, top layer)28g

53 kcal

Rice flour (both layers)9g

32 kcal

Sugar (both layers)8g

31 kcal

Pandan layer liquid (water, pandan juice)30g

0 kcal

The real talk

Tepung Pelita is one of those kuih that looks innocent because it's small and it comes in a cute little banana-leaf cup. Two layers, green pandan jelly at the bottom and a silky salted coconut milk (santan) layer on top, steamed and served slightly chilled. At 105 calories per cup, it's not a disaster on its own. But that 6g of fat is almost entirely from santan, which makes up the whole top layer. The pandan layer is basically just rice flour, sugar, water and pandan juice so it barely clocks in. The sugar across both layers adds another 31 calories. Fair warning: these numbers are a ballpark estimate because hard calorie data for traditional kuih like this is genuinely thin. Treat it as a rough guide, not a lab result.

The real maths problem is that tepung pelita is very easy to eat three or four of in one shot at the bazaar. Four pieces is 420 calories, which is getting close to a proper meal. The santan ratio in the top layer is where different stalls diverge a lot. Thick, rich santan versus a thinner mix can shift the fat content by 2 to 3 grams per piece, which is maybe 20 to 25 extra calories each. If you want to keep it lighter, just set a hard limit of two pieces and move on. Pair it with something savoury instead of stacking it with other sweet kuih.

How to eat it lighter

Cap yourself at two pieces. At 105 calories each, two is 210 calories, which is a reasonable sweet snack. Four or five liao, you've eaten a full meal in kuih form.
Look for stalls where the santan layer looks thinner and less glossy. Thick, jiggly santan on top means more fat. The flatter-looking ones are usually lighter.
Eat it as your dessert after a low-calorie meal, not on top of an already heavy bazaar spread.
Avoid the versions sold alongside heavy syrup or extra coconut drizzle. Plain is already enough.
If you're making it at home, use light coconut milk for the top layer. You drop maybe 1 to 2g of fat per piece without killing the flavour.

Common questions

How many calories in Tepung Pelita?

One piece of Tepung Pelita (75g, one small banana-leaf cup) has about 105 calories, with 1g protein, 15g carbs and 6g fat. The santan top layer accounts for most of the calories.

What exactly is Tepung Pelita?

It's a traditional Malay kuih made of two layers steamed in a small banana-leaf cup. The bottom layer is green from pandan juice and made with rice flour, and the top layer is a salted coconut milk (santan) jelly. You eat it together and the sweet-salty combo is the whole point. It's especially common at Ramadan bazaars.

Is Tepung Pelita healthy?

One piece at 105 calories is fine. The issue is portion control because these things are tiny and you tend to grab a few at once. The fat is all from coconut milk so it's saturated fat, and the carbs come from rice flour and sugar. It's a treat, not a health food, but one or two pieces won't wreck your day.

Calorie and macro figures are estimates for a typical hawker or kopitiam serving. Actual numbers vary by stall, recipe and portion size. Use them as a guide, not gospel.

New to all this? Read how I went from 128kg to 86kg without cutting rice →