A Journey into Sumatra's Sweet Soul (1)

 

A Journey into Sumatra's Sweet Soul (1)

Hello food adventurers, we are going to explore Indonesian sweet treats! Yes, it’s the cake! To the first chapter of our exploration, we’re setting our sight to the island of Sumatra! The well-known island of its rich culinary and landscape will be the first stop of our journey. When it comes to Sumatran food, people always think about its fiery rendangs or nasi padang since it is very popular and easily found in all around Indonesia. However, prepare yourself to have sweeth tooth delighted treats from Sumatra! Forget about the western pastries if you’re used to the light buttery type of cake. This Sumatran cake will surprise you for its strong flavor and rich in fragrant. A great way to see this is by looking at two famous icons. Let’s get to know each of two iconic cakes from Sumatra!

Bika ambon

So, let's start our journey in the city called Medan. This city is located in North Sumatra, where one of the most famous cakes is Bika Ambon (Ambon Cake). The name Bika Ambon has its own story. Although it has "Ambon" in the title, which is a significant island in eastern Indonesia place or ethnicity, the cake is clearly identified as one of pride for Medan. How can this be? The most common story is associated with a great history of cultural blending. It is believed Bika Ambon is a delightful blend of Malay heritage with Indian influence through the use of the egg and the use of coconut milk. Now of course, associated with the name, there is the additional story to play. The story goes that it is actually a form of the word ambong, which is the resin that was once used in place of modern yeast as a leavening agent. But the most amazing thing about this cake is its texture. Making Bika Ambon is like a fun science experiment in the kitchen! It starts with a fermented starter, a bubbly mixture of flour, water, and yeast. The next step is to mix the prepared dough, which consists of a mixture of coconut milk, eggs, and sweetened sugar, along with pandan leaves to enhance the aroma of the dish. This special baking process is then carried out in a magical way. The heat from the dough is known to create thousands of tunnels and create tiny bubbles. The resulting dish is shaped like a honeycomb and has an iconic shape, known for its chewy texture, numerous holes, and soft texture that is delicious in the mouth.

Sago Cake

The next adventure is in Palembang. This city teaches many people about patience, simplicity, and the power of dignity in making desserts, cakes. Palembang itself has a signature cake, commonly known as layered sago cake. This cake represents various historical traditions and is also a famous cake in the city. This dessert represents the natural wealth of the province of Sumatra. It showcases the ingenuity of the local people in utilizing their sago, a type of starch obtained from the sago palm. This dessert is known to represent the natural wealth of the province of Sumatra, by presenting local prowess in the efforts to utilize sago, a starch extracted from the pith of the sago palm. Compared to Bika Ambon, a specialty of Medan with its bold texture and strong aroma, this cake is known for being made with patience and also possesses the beauty of its layered appearance. The process of making this cake requires patience. The thick, paste-like dough is made from the main flour, sago flour, coconut milk, and sugar. Then, with incredible patience, the bakers carefully and meticulously steam the cake layer by layer. Each layer, each with its own vibrant color, is poured into a baking pan and steamed until the cake is cooked through. This is done after the next layer is added. This meticulous process is repeated several times to realize a cake that is distinctively tall and also separate layers that have differentiation. The test of the highest skill is to ensure that each layer adheres to the next without color bleeding, creating a stunning visual of overlapping jewel-colored ribbons, softness, chewy texture, and beauty. One bite of this cake is known to prove the duplication required to realize a cake that is truly beautiful and extraordinary.

So, the next time you crave something sweet, look beyond the ordinary. Seek out a piece of Bika Ambon or Kue Lapis Sagu. In every spongy hole and every delicate layer, you are tasting a piece of Sumatran history, a spoonful of cultural fusion, and a whole lot of heart.