MAGICAL ELIXIRS JAMU PART 1 Jamu is a word in Javanese tribe language that means traditional medicine from plants. In Javanese culture, they believe that all disease can be cured. Jamu is an ancient tradition from Indonesia, that has been practiced for 1300 years. It is a drink that is considered a form of medicine, made from parts of plants such as leaves, bark, fruit, flowers or roots. It is drunk daily to maintain good health and prevent disease. The ingredients will vary on the ailment being treated and the taste will vary on the ingredients added. Jamu is produced a couple different ways. The first that we will discuss in this post, is the fresh ingredient jamu, which is drunk fresh and cold. The second, boiled jamu, which I will discuss in Part 2, is made of fresh or dried materials, and then boiled to form a decoction, used for curing or preventing disease. This can be drunk warm or cold and has many variations.
Traditional jamu is made from ginger, tumeric and tamarind. I feel that inflammation is the root of all disease and all 3 of these ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties and are high in antioxidants. They improve brain function, have anti-cancerous properties, lower risks of heart disease and have anti-viral and anti-bacterial effects.
The steps to a traditional fresh jamu brew are as follows. Gather 3/4 of a cup of each: fresh tumeric root, ginger root and tamarind. Wash both the tumeric and ginger, peel and cut them into small pieces. Place them into a mortar and pestle. Next, break the shell of the tamarind and place the fresh flesh into the mortar and pestle with the roots. Grind until fragrant and then fill the mortar and pestle with fresh water. Let this sit for a few minutes. Then pour the water into a glass jar through a fine mesh strainer. Continue the process an additional time to fill a glass bottle. Drink a cup a day and keep refrigerated. This should last you 3 to 4 days.
Jamu is still used today in Indonesia. If you ever happen to travel there be sure to try one of their many variations. In the meantime, why not try adding this to your wellness routine for yourself or loved ones right here at home? Cheers to good health. Stay well.