What sparked Mama Yu? Mama Yu had been years in the making, really. My mum always talked about wanting to do something outside of the restaurant and takeaway world, but we never had the time. It wasn't until I moved to London and started working at Mob that I realised there were other avenues we could explore. Food was never actually meant to be my path - mum definitely didn't want me or my sister ending up in the industry after everything she'd sacrificed - so it feels quite funny that I've come full circle. A big part of it comes from my family too. My grandmother, grew up on a chilli farm in Malaysia, and some sort of chilli oil or sambal was always on the table growing up, so Mama Yu feels like a way of sharing a little piece of home. We did a tiny online drop in Summer 2022 that sold out really quickly, and that's when we thought, maybe people actually want this. I actually left Mob and accepted a job offer at KPMG (mainly to keep my mum happy), but after a few years I realised I was way more excited about Mama Yu than coding, so I quit and went all in.
A Family Operation
Who does what? Mum runs production and keeps everything moving. She manages ingredients, suppliers and production days. I do pretty much everything else - marketing, stockists, online drops, emails, spreadsheets, carrying boxes around and whatever needs doing really.
Stubborn in the Best Way
Tradition or experimentation? Tradition always. The recipes for chilli condiments have been passed down from my grandmother, with a few tweaks for the western market. My mum always says it's getting harder to find chilli oils made the old way because a lot of people cut back on ingredients but she's stubborn in the best way and refuses to compromise.
The Only Answer
Go-to comfort food? A big bowl of dumplings, preferably with noodles or rice, drizzled with lots of Mama Yu Chilli Oil.
Tastes Like Home
Dish that feels like home? Hong shao rou (red braised pork belly), Chinese egg and tomato, and my mum's curry laksa.
Covered in Chilli Oil
How would you sum up your personal style?Most days I'm in a hoodie and trackies, covered in chilli oil. But when I get dressed properly, I love colour, textures and anything that makes getting ready feel fun.
Favourite sandralexandra piece right now? I'm really into chunky necklaces at the moment, so naturally I've been eyeing up this piece.
If Mama Yu were jewellery, what would it be? A giant red chilli necklace, no question.
SHOP XIENGNI'S COSMOS EARRINGS
