Since morning, the aroma of ripe durian and steamed glutinous rice filled the air along Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Pekanbaru. Under clear skies, a 1,000-meter-long table was filled with Durian Sticky Rice Cake: soft layers of white and green pandan glutinous rice, topped with thick golden-yellow durian sauce. Thousands of people stood shoulder to shoulder, children running around while waiting for free slices. "This is amazing โ this is the first time I've seen a cake this long," said Siti, a housewife from Tenayan Raya, holding a small plate with two pieces.
The event was not just a spectacle. At the same event, the Pekanbaru City Government officially designated the Durian Sticky Rice Cake as a regional culinary icon. The designation is outlined in Pekanbaru Mayor Regulation No. 123 of 2025, signed a day before the record attempt. Thus, this cake is no longer just a popular dish โ it has become an official culinary identity that distinguishes Pekanbaru among cities in Sumatra.
Origin and Production Process of the Giant Cake
The Durian Sticky Rice Cake originated from the adaptation of traditional Malay Riau customs. Its original version โ sticky rice with coconut milk broth โ has been known for decades. The durian variation emerged later, combining the uniqueness of local fruit with the chewy texture of glutinous rice. "This recipe has been passed down through generations. We only adjusted the proportions and cooking techniques to suit large-scale production and the tastes of younger generations," said Chef Roni, one of the menu designers and production coordinators of the giant cake.
Producing a 1-kilometer-long cake took three full days. Two hundred people from the culinary community, vocational students, and PKK volunteers were involved โ from steaming the glutinous rice, processing fresh durian flesh, to assembling the layers on the table. The main ingredients were 5 tons of local glutinous rice, 3 tons of Petaling and Musang King durian varieties harvested by Pekanbaru and Kampar farmers, and 1,200 eggs to strengthen the sauce structure. Every 50-meter segment was cooked in rotation to maintain stable temperature and humidity โ ensuring the taste remained intact until the event ended.
Boosting Tourism and Creative Economy
The designation of the culinary icon was designed as a catalyst for economic growth. According to Ahmad Fauzi, Head of Pekanbaru Tourism Office, national and international media coverage after the MURI record increased the search volume for the keyword "Pekanbaru durian" by 210% within a week. "Our target is a 15% increase in tourist visits this year, especially from Malaysia and Singapore โ two major markets already familiar with Indonesian durian," he said.
The direct impact was visible in SMEs. Cake shops in Sukajadi and Sail now include the Durian Sticky Rice Cake variant in their permanent menus. Retail prices range from Rp20,000โRp30,000 per slice, depending on additional toppings such as cheese or roasted nuts. Some souvenir shops at Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport have even ordered 500โ1,000 packages per week for Lebaran stock.
Public Support and Future Strategic Steps
The public's enthusiasm was not only visible at the event location. On social media, the hashtag #KetanTalamDurianPekanbaru went viral for 48 hours, with over 12,000 uploads โ mostly from locals showcasing homemade creations or photos of them tasting the giant cake.
"It's time our cuisine is recognized. For so long, people knew rendang or pempek. Now, the durian sticky rice cake can also go global," said Rina, a student at Riau University, who queued up since 06:00.
The city government plans to hold a National Durian Festival every October, with the Durian Sticky Rice Cake as the main dish. A dedicated souvenir center will be built in the Senapelan area โ the historical heart of Malay culture in Pekanbaru โ complete with educational spaces for the production process and a gallery of local durian varieties.
The main challenge ahead is the availability of raw materials. Although Pekanbaru durian is known for its sweet and thick flesh, its harvest is seasonal โ peaking between April and July. To address this, the city has launched the "Sustainable Durian" program: planting 5,000 durian trees on idle land in Tampan and Rumbai districts, as well as training farmers in freezing and pureeing durian. With these concrete steps, the Durian Sticky Rice Cake is ready to become a culinary ambassador representing Pekanbaru at the national level โ not just as a food, but as part of the region's development narrative.