These Anti-Mainstream Traditional Indonesian Drinks Are Good for Your Health

Indonesian traditional drinks are very diverse. One that is familiar and well known is jamu with various herbs/medicinal plants as its basic ingredients. This time, Jamupedia will provide recommendations for traditional drinks from various regions in Indonesia that you may not have heard of before.

This traditional Indonesian drink has been believed for years to have a positive effect on body fitness. All of the drinks are made from a combination of various herbs and other natural blends. What are those drinks? See the full article below.

1. Sarabba

Have you ever heard of a drink called sarabba? This traditional Indonesian beverage comes from South Sulawesi. As noted on the Food Detik  page, sarabba is commonly sold in South Sulawesi as a drink to warm the body and boost stamina.

Making sarabba is quite simple. First, prepare ingredients like ginger, pepper, palm sugar, egg yolk, and coconut milk. Boil the ginger with a little water, then add the palm sugar and coconut milk, stirring continuously until all ingredients are well combined. Finally, add the egg yolks and pepper, stirring until the mixture thickens. If you prefer not to prepare the ingredients yourself, you can also find instant sarabba products in stores.

Sarabba is known for enhancing stamina and endurance. The ginger content helps neutralize bloating and relieve symptoms of colds and flu.

2. Bir Pletok

It’s called a beer, but this traditional Indonesian drink contains no alcohol. This beverage is popular among the Betawi people. According to the Indonesia Travel page, bir pletok has existed since the Dutch colonial era as an alternative for Betawi residents who couldn’t drink the alcoholic wine often enjoyed by Dutch residents.

The ingredients for bir pletok are quite varied: ginger, cloves, nutmeg, pepper, lemongrass leaves, cardamom, cinnamon, secang wood, pandan leaves, lime leaves, and sugar.

Adjust the quantities of these ingredients based on the amount of drink you plan to make. It’s easy to prepare. Generally, put all the ingredients into boiling water over medium heat. Ingredients such as ginger, nutmeg, pepper, cardamom, and lemongrass should be crushed or mashed before boiling. Bir pletok is traditionally served warm, although many sellers now serve it over ice.

Bir pletok offers a range of benefits. Besides being believed to boost endurance, it is also said to improve blood circulation, alleviate pain, relieve migraines, and ease arthritis.

3. Bajigur

Bajigur is known as a traditional Sundanese drink. This drink is commonly found in West Java. Traditional Sundanese drinks are actually only made from coconut milk, sugar and coffee, but over time the drink has undergone various improvisations with the addition of several types of spices for added benefits.

The ingredients for this traditional Sundanese drink include thick coconut milk, palm sugar, ginger, lemongrass stalks, pandan leaves, cinnamon, and ground coffee. Just boil all the ingredients over medium heat. Do not forget to stir constantly so that the coconut milk is not broken. Finally, before serving, add ground coffee to taste.

Bajigur is also considered capable of maintaining endurance. The ginger in bajigur also helps improve blood circulation and reduce flu symptoms. Cinnamon is believed to be able to facilitate bowel movements, overcome hypertension, and treat mouth ulcers.

Those are 3 recommendations for traditional Indonesian drinks that can be consumed to maintain endurance during the pandemic. In addition to the three drinks above, there are many other traditional Indonesian drinks that can be used as alternatives. You can try wedang secang, wedang uwuh, jamu kunyit asam, beras kecur, and many more.