Indonesian 'Drinks'

There are a few Indonesian beverage specialties that I would consider desert; I find them unbearably sweet. But, they're a 'must try', for their unique mixture of ice (usually shaved, sometimes chipped, or, very rarely, cubed), fruit and syrups. Here are a couple of the classics:

Es Teler
(literally 'overexhausted' or 'drunken ice')



'Teler' means overexhausted, or, in Indonesian slang, 'drunk' or 'high' or 'completely wasted'. I can't really tell you why this descriptor is applied to this gorp-esque drink, except that maybe you have to be drunk to actually order it, or, perhaps it was the million-dollar epiphany (Yes, Es Teler is now a franchise!) of some Indonesian drug addicts best trip!? This sweet medley is also, more aptly, known as 'Es Campur' (mixed ice).

The barrage of ingredients in this drink is overwhelming. Bits and chunks of fruits (such as avocado, jackfruit, young coconut, pineapple, green melon), are mixed with susu (sweetened condensed milk), and sometimes nuts and chocolate or other syrups. Usually it melts pretty quickly into an unappetizing pinkish-brown soup...

If it didn't have the additional trimmings, and merely contained ice and fruit, it would be called 'es buah' (literally iced fruit). See, now that makes sense.


Es Cendol
(literally tapioca blob ice)



Icky, sticky, sweet-ness! This is layer upon layer of sweeter, stickier substances. The bottom layer you see is basically pure brown sugar, next comes the susu (sweetened condensed milk), then the drinks namesake: the tapioca blobs (green and Pink in this particular case). This is no substitute for a Chinese Pearl Milk Tea.


Es Soda Gembira
(literally 'happy soda ice')



Simply ice cubes, soda, and strawberry syrup. Who knew the recipe for happiness had only three ingredients!? I figured it would be pink.

To be honest, I've tried all of the above, so as not to reneg on my 'try anything once' policy... But when we're in the city, I usually stick with a simple es jeruk (freshly squeezed orange/lemon juice). Of course, I have to order it 'tanpa gula' (without sugar) or else it will end up like all the above drinks: too sweet!

Es Jeruk
(literally citrus ice)
(notice the inch of whitish, as-yet undissolved sugar on the bottom... this is post-stir!!!)



Es Jeruk (tanpa gula)
(literally citrus ice, without sugar)

looks the same as the above, minus the inch of sugar on the bottom!


Of course, my drink of choice on the islands is fresh young coconut (straight from the tree)!



Even better when shared with friends!