Tapai is one of the most popular traditional desserts in Malaysia and other Asian
countries. Traditionally, tapai is wrapped in a rubber leaf to enhance the smell and
increase its palatability. The study focused on identifying the yeasts present before and
after the production of glutinous rice tapai wrapped in different rubber leaves clones,
namely RRIM 2025, RRIM 2002, PB 260 and PB 350. The identification of the yeast was
carried out using API 20C AUX test strips for all rubber leaves clones, glutinous rice tapai
wrapped in RRIM 2025, RRIM 2002, PB 260, PB 350 and in a container (control). The
results showed that Crytococcus laurentii, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa 2, Candida famata,
Rhodotorula minuta were present in rubber leaf clones. While the yeasts that had been
identified in tapai wrapped in rubber leaf were Candida guilliermondii, Rhodotorula
mucilaginosa 2, Candida parapsilosis and Trichosporon mucoides and only C.
guilliermondii was found in the container. The physical properties of the tapai that are
wrapped in rubber leaves have a difference in texture, pH value and total soluble solids
content compared to the control sample. The tapai sample wrapped in RRIM 2025 and
RRIM 2002 had a high total soluble solid content of 45.8±0.14% and 45.78±0.16% °Bx,
respectively. Meanwhile, the control sample has the highest pH value and the hardest rice
kernels, which were 4.71±0.05 and 218.19±25.39 N, respectively. The results showed that
the different yeasts present in the rubber leaf may cause changes in the physical properties
of glutinous rice tapai.