original Bir Pletok

The difficulty of getting raw material for making bir pletok, spice for instance, makes this original Betawian drink hard to be found.

Maybe it’s true, that Betawian people are starting to be marginalized. It’s proven from the majority lands around golden triangle area of Jakarta, Setiabudi for instance, are no longer belonged to grandchild of Pitung. Whereas, from Setiabudi to Karet is actually the “nest” of Betawians.

Also, it’s not wrong that Betawian culture starts to be evicted. Due to the high flow of other cultures in Jakarta. All streams of culture, whether from within the country or even abroad, scramble for influences at the capital.

Although, it’s also true that Betawian people miss customs, manners, habits, and also relics of their ngkong (grandfather) and nyai (grandmother) in the past. Just take a look at Bale Betawi at one of the sides within Jakarta Fair. To be more precise, adjacent to Hall D, or in front of Gambir Expo gate.

At the place, hundreds to thousands of JFK visitors come everyday, peeking at one of the most unique stand in this year’s Jakarta Fair. They scramble and willingly queue to be able to take pictures with several ondel-ondel. Also to buy typical Betawian delicacies. Especially for the ethnical beverage, Bir Pletok.

Compared to other delicacies available, Bir Pletok is one of the items which gets rarer. Especially when compared to Kerak Telor. Because, people who can make such drink are getting fewer. And the materials needed are getting harder to be found as well. That makes hundred of liters of bir pletok at Bale Betawi is always sold out.

“We need 12 kinds of spice to make the real Bir Pletok. And we’re trying hard, reserving, including alienate it from preservative materials,” said by Ariani Arsyad, the owner of the so-called original Bir Pletok.

From 12 kinds of spice, according to Ariani, they are red ginger, secang wood, cinnamon, cardamom, and sugar. All materials are boiled at once. Every 1 kilo of the spice material, mixed with 5 liters of water. And then filtered twice for the purpose of separating spice from the water.

“Word ‘Pletok’ is taken from the sound of cracking cardamom when being boiled. While the word ‘Bir’, they say it’s taken by Pitung, who used to see Dutch’s habit in drinking beer,” added by Ariani. 

Seen from various materials used, no wonder if bir pletok has so many benefits. Such as to keep the stamina, omitting cough, common cold, body stiffness, and reducing rheumatic.

“Said by parents, apart from all the benefits, this beer surely quenching one’s thirst,” said by Ariani gagging.

Up until now, said by Ariani, a lot people believe that her beer is original, like how Pitung made it in the past. Because of the recipe was coming directly from his father, known as Muhammad Arsyad, or babe Arsyad from Matraman. While babe Arsyad was just forwarding H. Timin’s habit, which was his father.

In case Jakarta Fair ends, and Babe Arsyad brand Bir Pletok, which seems to be the original, will no longer sold in Jakarta Fair, hence the drink will be able to be found at Wisma Lapan Putra, Jl. Pramuka Jati C 17, Central Jakarta. 

copy from 

http://www.jakartafair.biz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=169:orginial-bir-pletok-at-bale-betawi-english-version&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=81