7 Sweet Local Snacks You must Try when Travel in Central Java, Nr.6 has Exotic Luxury Taste and Name

After exploring the culture and places in Central Java, of course that you are looking for the food. Then, if you want to have unique experience and enjoy the culture through the food or local culinary, here the list. But before you see the list, one important fact is that Central Java people loves sweeter food than salty food whether it is for main course, dessert, and snack. Now, in this article it is about the traditional snacks you may find when you travel around Central Java Province. Lets check it out. 

1. Dawet Ireng Ice - Purwokerto City

If you travel to Central Java Province, especially in Purwokerto city. You can find the local beverage is called Dawet Ireng Ice. What makes exotic about this beverage is the colour of the jelly. Dawet means 'coconut milk' and Ireng means 'black'. All of these ingredients are natural even the black color of the jelly.

The texture of the Jelly is from palm sugar flour or sago flour combined with erot flour and salt. As for the black color taken from the rice straw which is burned till become the charcoal and soaked in water then the marinade is used as a black dye. This beverages can be the medicine for heartburn and good for digestion. It will quench your thirst, when in summer. 

2. Wajik Rice Cake - Magelang City

Wajik or Wajid is a diamond-shaped cake or traditional snack made with steamed glutinous (sticky rice) and further cooked in palm sugar, coconut milk, and pandan leaves. Wajik in Indonesian language means the shape of rhombus or shape of diamond . The cooked rice is then spread and flatted in a baking tray. Once it cools to room temperature, the sticky rice cake is cut into small pieces in the shape of a diamond or rhombus.

The sweet taste of Wajik Cake originally is from brown sugar and durian flavor. Besides that, it is often added with other flavor such as Pandan and Vanilla. The texture of the cake is soft and easily bitten.

3. Jenang Cake - Kudus City

Jenang Cake is a traditional sweet snack which made of  white glutinous rice, palm sugar, and coconut milk. It tastes sweet, soft, and sticky. Jenang is often presented in various local events such as wedding ceremonies, thanksgiving of baby born or pregnant woman, dead ceremony, and many more various local and religious events.

Besides that, Jenang not only known as a food. It has a philosophy and symbols behind it which believed by local people such as prayer, unity, hope and enthusiasm. In the manufacturing process, Jenang Kudus is cooked using a large skillet.

The cooking process takes a long time, which is more than 4 hours. During cooking, Jenang cake mixture is always stirred using wood that resembles a paddle. This method of cooking has been passed down from their ancestors in ancient times. So that, the authenticity of Jenang Cake is maintained. You can find Jenang Cake in snack and souvenirs shop.

4. Mendut Cake - Solo City

This chewy traditional snack is served with coconut milk and grated coconut. Mendut cake is made from rice flour and colored with Suji or Pandan leaves, which is filled with brown sugar or palm sugar and served in bowl made of Banana leaves.

This snack usually served in important events such as Eid day, pre-wedding day, pre-circumcision event, thanksgiving, etcetra. It is easy to find this snack in traditional Market. Another name of this cake is Bugis Cake. You will not disappointed when you eat this snack. Very delicious!

5. Enting Enting Gepuk-Salatiga City

Enting-Enting Gepuk is a traditional snack from Salatiga City in Central Java Province which made from peanut, granulated sugar, water, and essence. The prism shape of an isosceles triangle and wrapped in paper makes this local snack is unique.

The savory sweet and peanut taste makes it very crunchy. This snack is called 'gepuk', because the process of making this snack , is spattered until smooth and all the ingredients are mixed together. This snack is very healthy, because it has made without preservatives and coloring. It can last up till 6 month after manufacturing process.

Enting-Enting Gepuk is consist of 2 layers which are skin and fill layer. The skin layer is harder, more crispy, and sweeter. Then, the fill layer is contain softly peanuts. But when you eat, you will find a different sensation, once it is bitten will dissolve melt in the mouth and remains is crumbs mixed with sugar and peanuts.

6. Rondo Royal Cake- Jepara City

Rondo Royal is a traditional snack made of fermented cassava with rice flour then fried. The name of 'Rondo Royal' means Rondo is widow and Royal means luxury. Literally in Java language is generous widow who loves to give. However, no one knows why this snack has the name 'Rondo Royal'.

Not only the name is unique, but also the taste is exotic. The combination tastes of sour from fermented cassava and the salty taste of the flour are give the softness distinctive sensation when you enjoyed it.

7. Gethuk Cake- Magelang City

Gethuk is Javanese dish made from cassava. The cassava is peeled, boiled, and mashed. Then it is mixed with grated coconut, sugar/palm sugar, and small amount of salt. Other method to make Gethuk is by grinding it by meat grinder and cut it into cubes. While grinding butter, sugar, salt, milk powder, vanilla, and food coloring is added. The main ingredients of Gethuk could be made from cassava, banana, sweet potato, and taro. But the original main ingredients is cassava.

Normally, it is served in tea time. You will loved this snack, once you have eaten. There is philosophy about this snack. It is symbolize simplicity and using the potential we have actively and creatively to make people more independent in every situation. This philosophy is created is because this snack was invented when Japan colonized Indonesia in the past. 

So, what do you think the list above?
Which snacks make you curious to try?
Do you want to find out more about the uniqueness of Indonesian culinary?

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