TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Snack stores have prepared several signature culinary options heading towards the 2018 Chinese New Year or locally known as “Imlek”.
Such as Mario, a snack seller that has established a store in the Petak Sembilan market area for the past decade. He stated that there are at least four types of snacks that are often hunted during the Imlek celebrations. Here is the list:
1. Teng Teng peanut candy
According to Mario, the teng-teng peanut candy tops the list as the most searched by Chinese descendants during the Imlek celebration. He claims that he can sell four-folds during the Imlek celebration compared to usual days.
It consists of ground peanut and brown sugar and is sold in small plastic packages. Teng-teng peanut candies are also offered in various flavors such as coffee, almonds, and cashew. It is often sold in bulk and is valued at Rp100,000 per kilogram.
2. Sweet and spicy emping crackers
This special delicacy is also a popular option during Imlek. “The best quality is supplied from Bali for Rp100,000 per kilogram,” said Mario. Emping crackers from Bali are smaller in size and are softer than usual empings in Indonesia. Larger sized emping crackers from other regions such as Bandung are sold for Rp60,000-Rp80,000 per kilogram.
3. Candied fruits or “Manisan”
According to Mario, numerous snack stores in Petak Sembilan sell special candied fruits during Imlek, which are supplied directly from China. “It comes from China, only once a year in Imlek,” said Mario.
The varied candied fruits such as green tea, plum, cherry, and apple, are sold in the area into smaller packages similar to teng-tengs that are sold in bulk for Rp140,000 per kilogram.
4. Chocolate coins
Chocolate would always make the list for any celebration, in this case, Imlek too. It is said that the chocolate coins are supplied from China too. The small chocolates are packaged to look like coins - hence the name - which has Mandarin alphabets that represent “Fu” which means fortune or good luck.
FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
