The Healthy Jamu
⊆ 10:31 AM by Ratna Dewi | Jogja .
Traditional herbal remedies, collectively called jamu, as a part of Javanese tradition are very popular with Jogjanese. These pastes, powders, creams or capsules are consumed daily and used to cure everything from headaches and fatigue to leprosy and flabby tummies.
This fascinating 'nature cure' originated in the royal courts of Jogjakarta (Keraton), and also Surakarta (Solo). Here, the ladies of the nobility spent their time discovering and perfecting the science of using roots, flowers, barks, nuts, herbs and spices to retain their beauty and vigor.
'Mbok jamu' is a term for the women selling jamu. 'Mbok' means 'old woman' or 'madam', but many young girls who sell jamu also called as 'mbok jamu'. Mbok jamu brings her products, with a unique bamboo hand-made container named 'bakul', on her back strong fasten by a long stole or shawl (locally known as 'selendang' or 'jarik') worn over her shoulder.
Walking along the crowded streets or visiting public spaces like traditional market are the common method to market jamu. Interested buyers will stop mbok jamu to buy whatever they need. People who want more comfortable place to consume it could go to jamu stores that can be found at the city corners. Anyway, jamu stores doesn't serve traditional jamu, but modern packed jamu made by commercial manufactures.
Yes, today the ancient ancestral recipes of jamu are used to commercially manufacture an endless variety of modern jamu to sell to convinced customers.
Taken with some corrections from 'Culture of the World; Indonesia', except paragraph 3 & 4 written by Eko Sudjarwo.
Photo credit to: Kompas, Wikipedia, Halalguide, Seasite, Budpar.go.id
