FAQ
Product Information
Q: How long can the sauce be kept after opening?
A: We advise about 3 months in the fridge. Always use a clean spoon. Cover and keep chilled. The exception is Ginger Garlic Sauce which is more delicate, we advise 1 month. We use minimal preservatives so sauces have a shorter shelf life than some store-bought ones, but this means that it is healthier and closer to freshly home made ones.
Q: How long can the sauce be kept without opening?
A: Refer to the label for the stated “Best Before” date. This is one year from the date of manufacture. “Best Before” means that it is still edible and the food is safe but not preferable. There is an allowance for about up to 3 months from the stated date, but there might be some discolouration (dulling of the colour) due to oxidation and the flavours might be less ideal: more mellow, less bright and fresh. (“Expiry Date” means that the food is not safe after the stated date, whereas ours is a “Best Before”.)
Q: Which products are halal-certified?
A: All our sauces and curry powder are halal-certified, these include Cilicuka Original, Cilicuka Very Hot, Cilicuka Very Very Hot, Sambal Hijau, Ginger Garlic Sauce, Singapore Meat Marinade, and Nonya Curry Powder.
Q: Which products are vegan?
A: Cilicuka Original, Cilicuka Very Hot, Cilicuka Very Very Hot, Ginger Garlic Sauce, and Nonya Curry Powder.
Q: Does it have to be refrigerated?
A: Once opened, it needs to be refrigerated. If unopened, it is shelf-stable (does not need to be refrigerated).
Q: How can it be best consumed?
A: Cilicuka: As a dip (for keropok/crackers, fried chicken, steamboat, spring rolls, fishballs, etc). As a condiment (for traditional dishes such as chicken rice, kueh pie tee, popiah, ngoh hiang, etc). As an ingredient (mix with mayonnaise for a Rose Marie sauce; with tomato sauce for a chilli crab dip, etc.).
Sambal Hijau: As a condiment (for ayam penyet, ayam goreng, ikan goreng). As sambal (add petai, winged beans, French or long beans, etc) then stir-fry. As a pour-over sauce (for fish then bake in over or BBQ).
Ginger Garlic Sauce: As a dip (for steamboat and steamed chicken). As a condiment (with chicken rice). As pour-over sauce (for fish, chicken, tofu, vegetables). As an ingredient (for stir-fries).
Q: How do I use it for cooking?
A: Cilicuka: As an ingredient (mix with mayonnaise for a Rose Marie sauce.). Add to tomato sauce and crab meat, beat in one egg for Chilli Crab Dip.
Sambal Hijau: Pour-over fish then baked in the oven. Pan-fry fish then serve with the sauce as the base.
Ginger Garlic Sauce: Steam fish, chicken or vegetables, then pour-over slightly warm or room-temperature sauce.
Singapore Meat Marinade: In a food safe bag, add the sauce to chicken wings (for BBQ Chicken Wings), boneless chicken thigh (Asian-Style Roasted Chicken), pork belly (Kong Bak Bao) or pork neck (Char Siew) and then roast or braise.
Nonya Curry Powder: Add aromatics (ginger, garlic, shallots), then chicken and coconut milk.
Q: Do I have to cook it?
A: The Singapore Meat Marinade is a cooked product, therefore it is safe to eat out of the jar. However, it is intended as a marinade for meats (before or during cooking) or a coating sauce (after cooking).
Q: Where are the sauces made?
A: All of our products are proudly and lovingly made in Singapore. However, the raw material comes from these regions (Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia).
Q: Are the sauces homemade?
A: Our sauces are not homemade, they are factory made, but we deliberately create tastes and texture that are like homemade.
Q: What is Cilicuka?
A: ‘Cili’ is Malay for ‘chilli’ and ‘cuka’ means ‘vinegar’, so it is essentially a red chilli vinegar sauce.
Q: Which sauce has belacan (shrimp/prawn paste)?
A: Sambal Hijau has belacan.
Other information
Q: Where can I buy your products?
A: Online purchase is the best way to purchase (www.shermay.com) because payment is online and it has next-day direct delivery. Alternatively, our products are also available at TANGS Market, located at the basement of TANGS department store at Orchard Road. Most of the Bengawan Solo outlets also carry our sauces, especially the Cilicuka range.
Q: Can I bring it overseas?
A: Yes, our sauces and curry powder should meet international exportation standards (for Australia, Europe and the US), however it depends on the destination country. Our sauces and curry powder are manufactured in Singapore, in a factory with the highest hygiene and food safety standards as well as having the highest certifications. They export their products internationally. However, whenever in doubt, we advise that you check with the food regulation in the destination country.
Q: Do you sell in smaller jars, different sizes or packaging?
A: We would love to but we can’t right now. It has to do with the factory’s production capability.
Q: Who is Shermay?
A: Shermay is a 5th generation Singaporean and Peranakan, and a chef by training (Le Cordon Bleu). She develops all the products that we retail, personally oversees all the design of the packaging and operations of our business.
Q: What is our Perks?
A: Perks is our reward system and can be used to redeem vouchers.
Ways to earn Perks:
• By Placing Order:
1 Perk for every S$1 spent
• Signing-Up:
5 Perks (worth S$5)
• Follow on Instagram:
5 Perks (worth S$5)
• Like on our Facebook page:
5 Perks (worth S$5)
Ways to redeem Shermay Perks:
• 100 Perks to redeem a S$5 off coupon
Referral
• Both parties will receive S$5 off coupon
*Applicable only to non-promotional items