It is common for us to see international celebrities recommending their favourite brands. However, former One Direction member Zayn Malik had Malaysian netizens surprised when he pulled out an iconic brand that is a staple in every local household.
Recently, the singer was featured on British Vogue’s “In The Bag” series which entails celebrities revealing their bag and daily go-to items. Throughout the video, the 31-year-old shared some of the things he would carry with him, including perfume, a gaming device and the unexpected Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa (念慈菴枇杷膏) cough syrup, locally known as Cap Ibu & Anak syrup!
During the interview, the “Pillowtalk” hitmaker described the product as a “honey syrup” that he uses to help clear his vocal cords. He even called it his “special elixir” for its incredible effects on his singing, having him take it everywhere. Zayn also mentioned that he would typically mix it with water before downing it right after.
As a result, this instantly gained attention from Malaysian netizens as they were astounded upon learning the fact an international star is using our local’s favourite brand. Several netizens find it amusing, stating that the brand just received free marketing from the R&B star himself.
One user expressed that they didn’t know that the herbal remedy could mix it with water as it is commonly advised to consume straight from the bottle. This has started a minor debate among netizens as only a few had the same routine as Zayn. One netizen also revealed that “Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa” is a herbal preparation mix and it isn’t as addicting as modern-day cough syrup due to not including an active ingredient.
Aside from that, some netizens added that there is a local shop in Singapore known as Woobbee has even served bubble tea made from the said syrup. Due to this, it led to a few others joking about using it for an ice cream instead.
Nevertheless, Zayn’s fans in Asia are happy to know that their favourite celebrity is consuming the same cough syrup as them. The notion behind this is possibly due to how accessible the product is to almost everyone; making us feel relatable to these celebrities as most celebrities commonly opt for high-end brands.
Check out the full video or you may skip to minute 1:18 to see the cough syrup in Zayn Malik’s hands!
Ariani Soraya contributed to this article.
