WEDANG UWUH, A Secret Recipe of Javanese HerbsCategory : Local Culinary
In the Javanese word, 'uwuh' means rubbish. And 'wedang' is like a hot drink. So, if we compare the two words, the meaning becomes rubbish drink. How is scary?
But, don't be suspicious first. This is not the real rubbish, like waste paper or waste vegetables. It's only a name which represents the wedang uwuh made by much kind of herbs, as clove, lime leave, secang, nutmeg and cinnamon. All put in a glass, look like a rubbish bin.
Wedang uwuh made by local people from a local area named Imogiri, south Jogjakarta city. It's kind a unique and traditional drink from the ancient time. There are no sources which explained about the creator of the herbs. It's just like another popular drinks like 'wedang ronde' (drink made by roasted peanut), wedang jahe (drink made by ginger) and many others.
Many people came to Imogiri, beside sight seeing of Sultan family's sacred cemetery, they also try the herbs. They believe the wedang uwuh is good for their health and able for curious some diseases, like cough and fever. The seller captured this persuasion as a good opportunity. They made instant wedang uwuh. So, people came from Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung and the other cities outside Jogjakarta can serve by them self.
Is that true the wedang uwuh able for healing?
According to research, wedang uwuh it's like a doctor for some diseases. First ingredient, ginger is good for blood circulation. Ginger can stop problem like frozen blood. And it's better than red garlic and white garlic do. Ginger is able to reduce cholesterol absorbed in blood and heart. A research showing the ginger can reduce blood pressure also. The cinnamon has anti occident. The combination between ginger and cinnamon are able to moving up human immune because cinnamon has greater anti occident.
It's interesting to know wedang uwuh more. The cinnamon and clove are able to make our body warmer, giving good aroma and its have unique taste sensation. Nutmeg leaves have saponin, poliferol and flavanoid. Those are useful for remove pain, reducing stomached because of fever and release blood circulation problem.
Another important component is secang (Caesalpina sappan), knew as ingredient for curious many diseases like blood cough and syphilis. Secang have similar ability like two components above. And the last one is sugar cube. Sugar cube gives sweet taste but it's not reduced unique taste and aroma from another component of wedang uwuh.
Are you interesting to try? You can buy instant packages when you visit Imogiri. Have a lovely trip and stay health.