Wedang Jahe
When I was a little girl, my mom used to buy herbal drinks or what we call Jamu in Indonesia. Jamu has varieties of drinks made from turmeric, ginger, galangal, cinnamon, and other native indigenous plants that have some weird names. They are claimed to be good for your health and well being.
Jamu is sold by women carrying a basket on her back strapped by a fabric called selendang. In her basket, different varieties of Jamu herbal drinks are stored in bottles. As she goes around the neighborhood selling her drinks, she also carries couple of small glasses for serving and a little bucket filled with water to rewash them. So you can imagine the hygiene issue of the glass drank by 30-40 people, although she still carry the water to wash them. And I am one of the drinker of that glass. Gosh I hope I understand the meaning of the word hygiene at that time. My mother on the other hand, she always pre-ordered a bottle of Jamu and store them in the refrigerator, so she could conveniently drink them.
Wedang Jahe is always my favorite Jamu. It is sweet with a spicy taste. When you drink them, you could taste the sweetness, and when it washes your throat, you could feel the warmth on your chest. It is really a warmth wintery drink for me. This recipe could last for days, and as you reheat them, the stronger and spicier it gets.
Ingredients
- 2 knobs of ginger (each about the size of your palm), sliced thin
- 2 pandan leaves, knotted and separated the leaves
- 1.5 liter of water
- 1 cup of sugar or to your preferences
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients in a pot. Using low heat, bring them to boil. The longer it simmers, the stronger and spicier it tastes.
Preparation time (duration): 10
Culinary tradition: Indonesian
Please leave your comment/suggestion if you find this recipe useful. Can’t wait to hear from you and Thank You!!!
