Kadazan-Dusun · Rungus (as bintanok) · dessert
Hinompuka
Also called: Linompuka, Lompuka, Bintanok (Rungus)
Hinompuka is a Kadazan-Dusun steamed rice cake made from glutinous rice flour and palm or brown sugar, wrapped in banana leaf. It is sweet, chewy and fragrant, and especially associated with the Kadazan of Penampang.
- Sweet
- Chewy
- Fragrant
- Caramel
Updated
| Origin | Penampang and the West Coast |
|---|---|
| Community | Kadazan-Dusun, Rungus (as bintanok) |
| Type | dessert |
| Flavour | Sweet, Chewy, Fragrant, Caramel |
| Typical price | RM1–3 per piece |
| Where | Penampang, Kota Kinabalu |
Origin and culture
Hinompuka is a festive sweet, made in batches for Kaamatan and family celebrations. The Rungus of the Kudat area make a similar cake they call bintanok.
The banana-leaf wrapper is part of the flavour. Steaming inside the leaf gives the cake its aroma.
Ingredients
Glutinous rice flour
Brown or palm sugar
Banana leaves
For wrapping
Water and a pinch of salt
What does Hinompuka taste like?
Caramel-sweet and sticky, with a soft chew and the green fragrance of steamed banana leaf.
How Hinompuka is made
- 1
Rice flour is mixed with dissolved sugar into a thick batter, portioned onto banana leaves and folded into parcels.
- 2
The parcels are steamed until set and eaten warm or at room temperature.
Where to eat Hinompuka
Kaamatan stalls, tamu markets around Penampang, and kuih sellers in Kota Kinabalu.
Is Hinompuka halal? Dietary notes
Plant-based and halal by ingredients.
| Pork | No pork |
|---|---|
| Seafood | No seafood |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
Hinompuka FAQ
What does hinompuka taste like?
It is sweet like caramel, sticky and chewy, with a fragrance from the banana leaf it is steamed in.
Sources and further reading
- Hinompuka, Wikipedia. Accessed 6 October 2026
Related dishes
Kadazan-Dusun
Linopot
Linopot is rice, usually hill rice or a mix with sticky rice, wrapped in a doringin, tarap or banana leaf into a neat parcel. It is the traditional Kadazan-Dusun, Murut and Rungus way to carry and serve rice with side dishes.
Kadazan-Dusun
Bambangan
Bambangan is a large wild mango (Mangifera pajang) native to Borneo, with rough brown skin and bright yellow-orange flesh. In Sabah it is best known pickled with salt and its own grated seed, as a sour relish for rice.
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