TIMES SINGAPORE, JAKARTA – Indonesia is known with the richness of their culture, many different culture from different region its wonderful. It is so included to the variety of the dish that Indonesia have. One of their traditional dish is called, lemet, it is originally from Java. In some other area, maybe they have a different name to call the dishes.

Some people called it timus, utri or etc. Lemet is a traditional snack that made from cassava. Cassava is one of an alternative for staple food in the past, that’s why a lot of traditional food or snack are made from cassava.

It is really easy to make lemet because it is not need much ingredients and it is also easy to find. These traditional food is contain shreded cassava, shreded coconut, palm sugar and a little bit of salt. You just need to mix all the ingridients and after all mixed up, then wrap it with a banana leaves.

After that, steam it for 30 until 45 minutes until the banana leaf changed the color. The banana leaves itself can help to add more fragrance that make it on the next level of tastiness. So, it has a sweetness from the palm sugar, savoury hint from the shreded coconut and salt, also and aromatic taste from the banana leaves.

The texture of lemet itslef is sticky and chewy, but its not make it mess or hard to eat it. In the same part of java, they make that dish more variation. Seometimes they added some pieces of jackfruit or banan to addedd more fragrance and flavor. Sometimes they also use corn or sweet potato to replace the cassava.

"Nowadays, many variations of lemet are produced to cater to consumers. I hope many young people can taste and appreciate this traditional food so that it will not be forgotten in the future." Sunani a Javanese momma said. 

Lemet is often easy to find in traditional markets or stores that specialize in selling traditional snacks. It is commonly served during family gatherings, special events, or culinary bazaars. Lemet is also closely associated with, and symbolizes, harmony, simplicity, and the tradition of mutual cooperation among villagers.

This connection reflects the values embedded in many rural communities, where sharing food often represents the spirit of togetherness and cultural preservation. As a simple yet meaningful dish, lemet carries the essence of local tradition, embodying the warmth and unity that are integral to Indonesian communal life. (*)

Writer: Revika (DJ)