Indulgences

1. Kretek

   Kretek (Indonesian clove cigarette)

   Usage

   Indonesia's distinctive cigarette: tobacco blended with cloves (cengkeh) and a flavouring sauce. Made mainly in Kudus, Kediri, Surabaya and Malang on Java. The name imitates the crackling sound when smoked. ⚠ The health harm is no different from ordinary tobacco, and smoking is banned indoors and on public transport in many places

2. Rokok

   Cigarette

   Usage

   The general word for a cigarette; kretek is one kind of rokok. No-smoking signs read "Dilarang merokok"

3. Kopi luwak

   Kopi luwak (civet coffee)

   Usage

   Coffee brewed from beans recovered from civet (luwak) droppings, produced in Gayo (Aceh), Sidikalang and across Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi, and sold at high prices at tourist plantations. ⚠ Investigations by PETA and the BBC documented wild civets caged and fed only coffee cherries, prompting boycotts. Ask how the animals are kept before buying

4. Kopi Gayo

   Kopi Gayo (Gayo highland arabica)

   Usage

   Arabica from the Gayo highlands of Central Aceh. It holds a Geographical Indication certificate from Indonesia's Ministry of Law and Human Rights and Fair Trade certification (27 May 2010). If buying as a gift, look for the origin marking

5. Sirih pinang

   Sirih pinang (betel leaf and areca nut)

   Usage

   The habit of chewing betel (sirih) leaf wrapped around areca nut (pinang) with gambir and lime. Sirih is the provincial flower of the Riau Islands, where the welcoming ritual survives. ⚠ The practice is linked to oral cancer, and the lime causes gum recession. It is fine to decline if offered

6. Arak Bali

   Arak Bali (traditional Balinese distilled spirit)

   Usage

   Bali's traditional distilled spirit, made from fermented palm sap or rice. Bali Governor Regulation No. 1 of 2020 recognises arak, tuak and brem as legal Balinese heritage products. ⚠ Methanol poisoning from unlicensed bootleg liquor (miras oplosan) is common in Indonesia, with deaths and blindness among travellers. Buy only sealed, licensed bottles and avoid loose pours or cocktails of unknown content. ⚠ In Aceh, drinking and selling alcohol is punishable under Qanun Aceh No. 6 of 2014 (Hukum Jinayat). Regional rules differ sharply

7. Brem Bali

   Brem Bali (Balinese rice wine)

   Usage

   A Balinese wine fermented from glutinous rice — milk-white in Bali, red in the Nusa Tenggara version. Recognised alongside arak and tuak by Bali Governor Regulation No. 1 of 2020. ⚠ The "brem" of Madiun in East Java is not a drink at all but a dried solid sweet made from fermented glutinous rice. Do not confuse the two

8. Tuak

   Tuak (palm wine)

   Usage

   A fermented drink made from palm sap (nira) or rice. Drunk by the Batak of Tapanuli in North Sumatra, the Toraja of Tana Toraja in South Sulawesi, and in Madura and Bali; the Toraja also use it ceremonially. ⚠ It is a regional drink, not a nationwide one. In Aceh, drinking and selling alcohol is punishable under Qanun Aceh No. 6 of 2014

9. Bir Bintang

   Bir Bintang (Indonesian pilsner beer)

   Usage

   A pilsner from Multi Bintang Indonesia, a Heineken subsidiary; under 5% ABV. Being a licensed commercial product it carries none of the methanol risk of bootleg liquor, so it is the safer choice if you drink. ⚠ Sale is regulated differently by province and regency, and is prohibited in Aceh under Qanun Aceh No. 6 of 2014. Be discreet near places of worship and during Ramadan

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