Not only delicious special food, Indonesia also has a variety of refreshing special drinks to taste. Even some of these special drinks have benefits for your body’s health. This is because typical Indonesian drinks are formulated from natural ingredients, such as spices.

Since centuries ago, Indonesia has been known as a producer of abundant spices. It is reasonable that various typical or special Indonesian drinks have a delicious taste, as well as being beneficial for body health. Interestingly, several typical Indonesian drinks have been marketed to the global market. This is obviously an opportunity for the creative economy’s culinary subsector.

For Sobat Parekraf who have never tasted the freshness of the archipelago's specialty drinks, here are 10 typical drinks that are worth tasting:

Wedang Uwuh

This drink originating from Yogyakarta has a sweet, warm taste, with a very relaxing aroma of spices. "Uwuh" (Javanese) means trash, which is interpreted as a drink containing leaves and spices similar to trash. This typical Indonesian drink contains high levels of  antioxidants. Hence, it can refresh the body, overcome colds, and improve blood flow.

Interestingly, wedang uwuh is included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Education and Culture and is one of the creative-economy products entering such foreign markets as Canada, Jeddah, Vietnam, and Nigeria.

Kawa Daun

It is a typical Indonesian drink originating from Padang, West Sumatra. In the Minang language, "kawa" is a coffee plant. So, "kawa daun" is a special drink made from dry coffee leaves, to which cinnamon and sugar are added. At first glance, this drink looks like tea, but the aroma and taste of coffee are quite pronounced. As an interesting fact, kawa leaves can reduce blood cholesterol and the risk of diabetes. This is due to its high antioxidant contents.

Teh Talua

In addition to kawa daun, West Sumatra also has another special drink, namely "teh talua". It is so unique. This tea is made from a mixture of chicken or duck eggs, sugar, and lime juice. The mixture produces five unique color gradations called the limo lenggek. This drink is often consumed at night to give warmth and restore stamina since it contains A, D, E, K vitamins, and quite a bit of protein. 

Teh Gaharu

Still in the form of processed tea, the next typical Indonesian drink that Sobat Parekraf must taste is “teh gaharu”. This drink comes from Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan. Having a slightly bitter taste but still refreshing, gaharu can soothe the body well since it contains antibacterial which is useful for detoxification. Moreover, the gaharu has been marketed to Asian countries until the Middle East!

Photo: Sarabba original drink from Makassar, South Sulawesi (Shutterstock/Ariyani Tedjo)

Sarabba

The next typical Indonesian drink is "sarabba". This drink, which originates from Makassar, South Sulawesi, is known as a warming drink and a stamina enhancer since it is made from a concoction of ginger, sugar, coconut milk and egg yolk. Sarabba has a hot spicy taste, and is perfect to drink at night or during rainy weather. In Makassar, sarabba is suitable for drinking while eating fried bananas.

Ie Seureubet

This typical Indonesian drink, which is quite unique and interesting to taste, comes from Aceh, namely
“Ie seureubet”. This drink is unique because it is made from pepper, cinnamon, ginger, pandan, cloves, and brown sugar. Not just an ordinary drink, ie seureubet contains high levels of antioxidants, so it can boost the immune system and restore energy after activities. 

Bir pletok

This signature drink of Jakarta is known for its strong aroma of spices and bright red color. Although the name is "bir" (beer), this drink does not contain alcohol at all. It is made from a mixture of spices: cinnamon, ginger, lemongrass, fennel, cloves, chilies, and cardamom. Having a hot spicy, fragrant, and warming taste, bir pletok contains high antioxidants, and is believed to increase immunity and overcome mild flu. 

Bajigur

The next typical Indonesian drink comes from West Java, namely “bajigur”. This hot drink is made from palm sugar, coconut milk, ginger, and various spices. To make it even more delicious, bajigur is often given such toppings as kolang-kaling (sugar palm fruits) or pieces of bread. Behind its warmth, bajigur has efficiency in maintaining the digestive system, as well as controling blood pressure and blood sugar levels. 

Teh Sari Sarang Semut

A drink that is no less unique and interesting to taste is "teh sari sarang semut". It is a special drink from South Sorong, Southwest Papua. Having a quite unique name, this drink is made from tuber plants that ants use as nests. This drink has a more concentrated taste than tea in general. Teh sari sarang semut has a high content of polyphenols and flavonoids. This drink is efficacious in getting smooth menstruation, overcoming migraines and high blood pressure.

Brem Bali

Last but not least is a traditional drink from Bali that is often used as an offering in traditional Balinese Hindu ceremonies. Brem Bali is a drink with an alcohol content of 9-25%. This traditional drink is made from the fermented process of black sticky rice, which can take 1-6 months to get the perfect Bali brem. Nowadays, Brem Bali is one of the unique souvenirs from the Island of the Gods that tourists are hunting for.

Cover: Wedang uwuh, a spices drink from Yogyakarta (Shutterstock/Kristanti)