TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Have you ever heard of coffee made out of leaves? You will find such unique coffee in West Sumatra. The Pondok Lemang and Kawa Daun Pak Pangeran in Padang Panjang Regency are two places in West Sumatra where you can find the kawa or leaf coffee.
The Pondok Pak Pangeran coffee shop is strategically located on the street between Padang Panjang Regency and Bukittingi. Every day, hundreds of people come to the shop to enjoy the refreshing leaf kawa.
The leaf coffee is truly made out of Arabica coffee leaves which is roasted until blackened. Then coffee leaves are then put into boiling water until the water is coffee black. Even more uniquely, the coffee is served in a coconut shell. In this way, the aroma of coffee become more fragrant and adds up to the enjoyment.
The leaves coffee is has been a tradition of West Sumatra people since the Dutch colonial era. During that time, residents are prohibited to enjoy the luxury of coffee beans despite the the Netherlands forcing them to plant coffee. The residents were then took the initiative to process coffee leaves into coffee.
Leaves coffee at Pondok Pak Pangeran Cottage is served alongside traditional snack lemang and durian. Lemang is made of tape (fermented cassava) and sticky rice roasted in bamboo. These traditional dishes are suitable to be eaten during the day. One portion of leaf coffee and lemang are priced at Rp10,000.
Pangeran, the owner of a Pondok Kawa Daun coffee shop said that he can sell at least 200 cups each day. Pangeran uses two sacks of Arabica coffee leaves supplied by a number of farmers in West Sumatra.
According to Pangeran, in addition to refreshing, the coffee leaves are demanded because it is believed to have efficacy against cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heatiness.
Heppy, a guest from Padang, said she always drink leaves coffee once a week. She always stops by to enjoy leaves coffee on the way to Bukittinggi. According to Heppy, the leaf coffee is quite delicious and refreshing to relieve thirst in the daytime.
IKA NINGTYAS