WHEN YOU MENTION THE WORD “JAMU”, A COCKTAIL OF HERBAL INGREDIENTS, MOST INDONESIAN PEOPLE WOULD CRUNCH THEIR FACE RECALLING THE BITTER TASTE.

@omajamuvegan

But jamu seems to have a more revered position here in Bali thanks to the widespread (and ever growing) health food shops and cafes. And no longer is jamu associated with the more traditional image of women cycling or walking around the neighborhood with a wicker basket of jamu bottles sling on her back (locally termed jamu gendong); and in its place are cool packaging in a jar (see the brand Circle of Life ), in bottles (we love the ones from Oma Jamu Vegan and Jamu Shack in Batu Bolong), in shot glass (bottoms up at Living Food Lab in Berawa), and you can even take classes to learn how to concoct your own jamu like what the Ubud-based traditional health & beauty brand Nadis has to offer, now also mixed with “foreign” herbs and spices like coriander, white Curcuma, red spinach, and beetroot. Some may also use coconut water and instead of regular sugar or honey, now it’s organic brown sugar or vegan-friendly palm nectar (or as the current trend dictates, sans sugar at all). Regardless, jamu popularity should be appreciated because it spotlights the complexities of Indonesia’s health staple and the richness of its herbal and spices. At least, no more crunching face even now the global millenials are slowly converted.

@circleoflifebali

What’s in it? The most common herbs used are ginger, turmeric, temulawak, betel leaves galangal, tamarind, sambiloto (very bitter), lemongrass each has their own energizing, detoxifying, body warming or even slimming properties.

@jamushackbali