Cuisine Of Indonesia

Bandrek is a traditional hot, sweet and spicy beverage native to Sundanese of West Java, Indonesia. The Sundanese people who live in the highland cool climate prefer to consume bandrek to warm themselves at night and during cold weather. This beverage is usually made of “jahe”(ginger), and other ingredients such as “kayu manis”(cinnamon), star anise, cloves, coriander seeds, cardamom pods, lemongrass, “gula merah” (Indonesian palm sugar), and small amount of chillies. Milk can be added or not, depending on one’s taste. Sweet, condensed milk or coconut milk is commonly used, and sometimes pieces of young coconut flesh are added as well. It is believed that bandrek has a healing effect on minor health problems, such as sore throat.