Recipes and how to make pletok beer, typical Betawi drinks.

Pletok beer, typical Betawi drinks.

pletok beer typical Betawi drinks.

Pletok beer is a traditional drink of the Betawi community that has been known since the Dutch colonial era. It is said that this drink was created because often people in that era saw Dutch people 'hang out' while enjoying beer containing alcohol. Because alcohol is illegal for the Betawi people who are predominantly Muslim, then a spice drink is created which functions to warm the body at night but without the alcohol content in it.

Initially this drink was made by mixing all the ingredients in a bamboo stick (bumbung), shaking it until the sound of 'plaque-pletok' was heard. From there the name Pletok beer was then taken and popularized.

The main ingredient for making this drink is secang wood (Caesalpinia sappan L). This plant belongs to the family of legumes, in the form of woody trees, and has bright yellow flowers. Secang wood has long been cultivated by residents in the regions of India, Southeast Asia, Malesia, to the Pacific, especially as producers of coloring agents and also traditional medicinal ingredients.

Secang wood has the main content, namely brazilin, a type of red-sappan, tanic acid, and gallic acid. Brazilin from wood is scientifically proven to be antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-photoaging, hypoglycemic (reducing fat content), vasorelaxant (relaxing blood vessels), hepatoprotective (protecting the liver) and anti-acne (anti-acne).

According to Wikipedia, secang wood extract is also thought to have anti-tumor, anti-viral, immunostimulant and others efficacy. Of course this information needs to be supported by careful and detailed scientific research. Traditionally, pieces of secang wood are commonly used as a mixture of herbal ingredients in Java. In addition, Secang wood is one of the ingredients for making fresh drinks such as pletok beer and wedang secang (wedang uwuh) in Yogyakarta.

This secang wood content gives the natural bright red color of beer pletok. This wood does not have a special taste, only functions as a coloring agent while providing health benefits because of its antioxidant content.

In addition to secang wood, another commonly used ingredient is ginger which gives warmth, cinnamon, lemongrass, pandan leaves, kaffir lime leaves, Javanese cardamom, cloves, mace, black pepper, mesoyi, java chili and sugar as a sweetener. Each pletok beer seller has a different secret concoction, but in general the basic ingredients are the same namely secang wood, ginger, java cardamom, cinnamon, clove, lemongrass, pandan leaves and sugar.

The process of making this drink is very easy, all ingredients used are boiled enough to boil. At that time the cooking water turned red in an instant. When it has boiled, then the decoction is left to let all the aromas, flavors and properties of the spices really infuse into the water, then filter and add sugar or honey to taste.

For a beautiful reddish color, sugar, rock sugar and honey are preferred over Javanese sugar which will make the beer pletok brownish. This traditional drink aims to warm the body so that it is generally drunk warmly, but the cold conditions from the refrigerator or additional ice cubes in my opinion are even more delicious.

Secang Wood, Jahe, Serai

Benefits of 3 main ingredients of pletok beer:

1. Benefits of Secang Wood for Body Health

Treating cancer and tumors
Increases body immunity
Treating gout or gout
Overcoming diabetes
Treat diarrhea problems
Prevent liver damage
Prevent coronary heart disease
Promotes the circulatory system

2. Benefits of ginger for health:

Overcoming digestive problems
Reducing nausea
Reducing pain
Helps the detoxification process and prevents skin diseases
Protect you from cancer
Anti inflammation

3. Benefits of Lemongrass for the Body

Overcoming depression
Lower blood pressure
Reducing blood sugar levels
Maintain the digestive system
Relieves muscle and joint pain
Maintain oral health
Relieves flu symptoms

Here's the recipe and process for making it: Beer Pletok
Ingredients for 4 servings:

1 liter of water
35 grams of secang wood, roughly chopped
50 grams of ginger, wash, slice and spread
2 lemongrass sticks, just take the white part and spread it
3 pieces of pandan leaves, cut into 3 cm long
3 kaffir lime leaves
2 cinnamon sticks, each 4 cm long
3 star anise
6 clove grains
3 pieces of cardamom java / black cardamom
sugar / honey / sugar, according to taste

How to make Pletok Beer - A Typical Warm Drink for Betawi:

Add all ingredients to the pan, except sugar. Boil over medium heat until boiling. Let boil for 5 minutes. Turn off the stove fire, let stand for 10 minutes so that all the aromas and properties of the spices and ingredients are infused into the cooking water. Filter.

Add sugar to taste, you should use sugar, honey or sugar cubes so that the color of the beer can remain bright red. Pour into a serving glass, add ice cubes if you like it cold. Or keep a beer in the refrigerator for several days. Emm fresh healthy ... Please try and prove it ...