How Generations of Indonesian Women Are Preserving an Ancient Juicing Tradition
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Loading... - Akemi Agawa
- 26 Apr 2023
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It’s 4:30 am on a quiet and temperate Wednesday morning in Sugihan, a small village in Solo (also known as Surakarta) on the Indonesian island of Java. Before her three children wake up for school, Ibu Mulatsih, 40, is crouched on a stool over a wooden mortar and stone pestle as water and sugar simmer in a pot beside her. She is grinding together rice and kaempferia galanga, commonly known as aromatic ginger, to brew beras kencur, a thick golden elixir that remedies everything from a sore throat to an upset stomach. In Indonesia, it’s one of the most widely-known recipes for jamu juice.
Jamu, the general term for traditional herbal drinks that help improve digestion and maintain overall health, is a daily way of life and a cornerstone of culture across the Indonesian archipelago. “Jamu is all about accessible wellness, and that’s what makes it so powerful; it’s not just a beverage, it’s the concept of taking care of yourself,” says Metta Murdaya, founder of jamu-based beauty line Juara and author of Jamu Lifestyle: Indonesian Herbal Wellness Tradition. A typical jamu juice, which falls somewhere on the bitter and sweet spectrum in taste, is created first by blending together a combination of roots, herbs, and spices to balance taste and desired health benefits. Then, the mixture is boiled in water until it’s ready to be bottled and served at room temperature later. Read More…
