What are you most excited about when you travel to Papua? Most people will say trying local food and enjoying the panoramic view of Raja Ampat are already shortlisted for their excursion. However, do you know that West Papua also has local beverages that you can only find around the area? Here are the top 5 local drinks you have to try!
Matoa Fruit Mocktail
Matoa is a typical Papuan fruit that grows in lowland areas, up to 1,200 meters above sea level. Not only in Papua, but Matoa fruit also grows in Maluku and Papua New Guinea. There are two types of matoa fruit: coconut Matoa and papeda Matoa. What makes these two types of Matoa different is the texture of the flesh.
There are many ways to enjoy matoa fruit. Matoa fruit mocktail is tourists’ favorite. This specialty drink of West Papua is made of ice with a mixture of kolang kaling, green jelly, Matoa fruit, agar-agar, basil seeds, nutmeg seeds, and other local spices garnished with lime and pandan leaves. It tastes sour and sweet, very refreshing, especially during a scorching hot day. Matoa fruit mocktail is sold in cafes or roadside stalls with prices starting from IDR 10,000.
Sunset Drink Papua
Sunset drink Papua gets its name from its colors combination that resembles the shade of sunset since it’s made of orange juice and carrot juice. Many tourists love this drink because of its refreshing taste. Not only spoils your taste buds, but the drink also spoils your eyes. It has two layers, the top layer is the carrot juice, and the bottom layer is the orange juice.
The combination of oranges and carrots produces a unique and distinctive taste. If you’re controlling your sugar intake, add only a little sugar, or you can also enjoy the natural sweetness produced by the two fruits. If you have a sweet tooth, you can add liquid brown sugar or syrup. Since oranges and carrots are rich in vitamin C and A, Sunset drink Papua is good for immunity and eyes. Sunset drinks can be easily found in restaurants, cafes, or shops, with prices starting from IDR 10,000.
Swansrai
Drinking alcohol has been a part of Papuan culture since the prehistoric era. About 3,000 years ago, people from Asia who spoke Austronesian visited the coast of Papua and introduced liquor to the Papuans. Then, they taught the Papuans how to make alcohol from local ingredients such as palm trees, coconut trees, and palm trees. Today, each tribe in Papua has different names and meanings and different traditions in consuming alcohol. One of the alcohol names is Swansrai.
Swansrai is a traditional local beverage in West Papua which is made of fermented Old coconut water. It has a pretty high alcohol content, reaching up to 30%, which gives a slightly bitter taste to it. The Papuans usually serve Swansrai in coconut shells to welcome guests.
The locals enjoy Swansrai casually as well. It can be found in food stalls or taverns at a reasonable price. It has become the glue of brotherhood among Papuan people, which is enjoyed by them when traditional events are held.
Teh Sari Sarang Semut (Ant’s Nest extract Tea)
Ant’s Nest is a medicinal plant that grows in West Papua, especially Wamena area. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and many more, which are suitable for your health. The herbal medicine can be consumed in dried form, cake, capsule, or extracted and made into a tea called Ant’s Nest extract tea.
Ant’s Nest Tea is made from the juice of Ants Nest, which is boiled and used as tea with the same benefits. Although the plant tastes bitter if consumed by itself, the bitterness is lost after turned into tea.
The tea contains flavonoids, antioxidants, and many more. It has many health benefits such as reducing blood sugar levels, relieving hemorrhoids, preventing high blood pressure, reducing breast lumps, maintaining heart health, relieving migraines, treating cancer, strengthening metabolism, and many more.
Taverns, online shops, and any gift shops in West Papua sell Ant’s Nest extract tea, so it’s easy to buy them. They’re packed in instant packaging and sold for Rp35,000 per box. For serious diseases, it’s best to drink it three times a day, two sachets each. For minor ailments, drink the tea three times a day, one sachet each. For stamina and disease prevention, drink the tea one sachet once a day. It is best to drink the tea without sugar
Amungme Coffee
Indonesia is famous for its coffee, and each region has its local coffee beans. In West Papua, you can find Amungme coffee, which is originated from Timika. It has a dark black color and a distinct aroma since it’s made of Arabica coffee beans. You can find them at the supermarket in Timika for Rp80,000 per package or get it directly from the factory for half of the retail price – Rp45,000.
Besides enjoying the beautiful scenery and tasting the exotic foods, make sure to try these local beverages in West Papua as well since you won’t find them anywhere else. Let’s have some fun!
