Jamu recipe: Indonesian elixir of life

Recette de Jamu : élixir de vie indonésien

Contributor

Marine Mancini 31/05/2021

Reading time

3 minutes

If we don't go to Bali...then Bali will come to us.
That was our mojo in creating this little golden concentrate that we offer you today.

Inspired by the traditional Javanese elixir of life, jamu, this herbal brew has been consumed for centuries in Indonesia. Enjoy a sip every morning to maintain your health, boost your immunity, and get through the day with vitality.

Why jamu?

Once used as a local therapeutic alternative, jamu remains a pillar of Indonesian wellness culture today.
Its secret? A blend of roots, spices, and citrus fruits with high medicinal value.

The version we offer you here is adapted to our European shelves: easy to make at home, while remaining faithful to the spirit of the original recipe

Ingredients

25g of turmeric, ideally fresh or powdered (organic)
50g of ginger, ideally fresh or powdered (organic)
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 L of mineral water
2 teaspoons of organic lemon juice
2 teaspoons of agave syrup (or honey for non-vegans)
2 teaspoons of archi'v cider vinegar
1 pinch of black pepper

Preparation

Add the turmeric, ginger, onion and garlic (finely peeled), black pepper and water to a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour everything into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Add the lemon juice, agave syrup, and Archi'v apple cider vinegar. Stir. Strain the mixture through a sieve, then once cooled, pour into a glass bottle and place in the refrigerator.

If we don't go to Bali, Bali will come to us.

That was the mojo behind the creation of this little juice that we offer you today. It's jamu, the Indonesian elixir of life (our mojo wasn't entirely accurate, by the way, since Jamu is more precisely native to the island of Java). It has been known for thousands of years in Southeast Asia. A large part of the population drank their jamu every morning! For good reason, this juice was considered the guarantor of maintaining good health, for a long and happy life.

Want to make jamu, the detox drink that's become a staple in Indonesia? Archie shares his recipe with turmeric, ginger, onion, garlic, lemon, agave syrup, and cider vinegar.

Jamu was once the only therapeutic alternative for farmers who couldn't afford Western medicines. Fortunately, treatments have become more accessible, but jamu has never ceased to exist. It even seems to have experienced a resurgence of interest in recent years. This explanation lies, in part, in the desire of Indonesians to reconnect with ancestral methods that have proven their worth. Here again, remedies stand the test of time …because they work! Would you like more explanations and information about jamu, the Indonesian elixir of life? Then we invite you to read this great thesis on the subject.

Initially, it's a preparation based on local medicinal plants. Unfortunately, we don't have all the incredible plants of this wonderful country at our disposal. That's why the Jamu 2.0 we offer here is easy to make and adaptable to our Western lifestyles. However, it guarantees the same properties as the traditional elixir of life. So no excuses, let's get preparing!