Sumatra can be one of the promising culinary tourism destinations. Apart from offering a variety of beautiful natural destinations, Sumatra also has many unique and authentic traditional Nusantara foods, especially in Lampung.
Lampung, Sumatra's traditional food, is usually synonymous with the use of fish, coconut milk, and spices as raw materials. Some Sumatra traditional foods are also often served in various regional celebrations.
Well, if you are planning a vacation to Sumatra, especially to Lampung, or simply want to expand your culinary experience of the archipelago, here are some traditional foods that you must also try. Let’s take a look!
Sumatra Traditional Food Recommendations
Sumatran cuisine truly reflects the richness of Indonesia’s natural bounty. Most traditional dishes from this region are made using authentic spices that are native to Indonesia.
Exploring the diverse flavors of Sumatra, especially from areas like Lampung, can be an exciting culinary journey. But amid all the tasty adventures, don’t forget to stay hydrated. To keep your body refreshed, make sure you bring along AQUA 1500 ml before setting off on your food hunt.
AQUA water has a naturally cool sensation even when consumed at room temperature, a sign that it comes from protected springs with well-preserved mineral content.
This makes AQUA 1500 ml the perfect companion for quenching your thirst while enjoying Sumatra’s delicious food under the hot tropical sun.
AQUA is also 100% pure mountain water, enriched with natural minerals and free from any added substances, making it safe and ideal for daily consumption.
Now that your AQUA 1500 ml is ready, it’s time to explore these traditional Sumatra food recommendations!
1. Seruit
Seruit is one of Sumatra’s most popular traditional foods that came from Lampung. Seruit is often served at big events, such as weddings.
The main ingredient of seruit is baung fish or belida fish. It is usually served with sambal terasi, fresh vegetables, and warm rice. Sounds so delicious, doesn't it?
2. Umbu
The next food from Sumatra is umbu. Umbu is a unique food from Lampung made from young rattan, then boiled until it turns soft.
Because of its bitter taste, umbu is often used as a mixture for sautéing vegetables. But, not infrequently, umbu is also eaten directly as fresh vegetables. However, since rattan has become difficult to find, you may only be able to find umbu at traditional events.
3. Gulai Taboh
Gulai taboh is a curry that is also made from fish as the main ingredient. Fish that are often used in this preparation are tuna and tongkol.
In addition to fish, gulai taboh is also equipped with pieces of bamboo shoots, long beans, red beans, cabbage, and kluwak as its characteristic.
The taste created by gulai taboh is similar to vegetable lodeh, but with a much more savory taste. Gulai taboh is usually served in large portions, which are then eaten together.
4. Tempoyak
Perhaps you are still unfamiliar with this food from Sumatra. Tempoyak is a fermented durian fruit that is processed into a kind of chill sauce as a complement to food. Sounds unique, right?
In terms of flavor, tempoyak tends to be sour and has a strong pungent aroma typical of durian. Generally, Sumatra people serve tempoyak with grilled fish and chili paste to make it more delicious.
5. Gabing
The next traditional Sumatra food is gabing. Gabing is processed from thinly sliced young coconut stalks and cooked using coconut milk sauce. Gabing has a savory taste and is similar to bamboo shoots.
Gabing used to be a daily dish for people of Lampung. However, since young coconut stems have become difficult to find, the existence of this specialty food is also increasingly rare.
6. Geguduh
Geguduh is one of Sumatra's most popular snacks that came from Lampung. It has a sweet and savory taste and soft texture.
Geguduh is made from mashed kepok banana and mixed with other ingredients, such as rice flour, cornstarch, cheese, vanilla, cinnamon, and baking powder.
This snack is very popular in Sumatra as it is often served during family gatherings with tea or coffee as its side.
7. Engkak
Engkak is a cake that is often used as a breakfast menu. It is sweet and savory, also has a soft texture, thus making it a favorite among all.
However, the process is quite complicated because it must be baked on coconut charcoal using a baking sheet in layers, almost the same as the process of making lapis legit.
Even so, the basic ingredients to make engkak are simple, such as flour, butter, and eggs.
8. Lampung Banana Chips
This snack is also a favorite of many tourists and is often brought home as a souvenir. One of the things that distinguishes this snack from banana chips in general is its variety of flavors.
You can find this banana chip in various flavors, such as cheese, chocolate, milk, strawberry, barbeque, and melon. The crunchy texture makes it perfect as a complementary snack during family gatherings.
9. Sekubal Cake
Sekubal cake is a Sumatra traditional food that is classified as a type of wet cake. It is made from glutinous rice mixed with coconut milk, then steamed for 8–10 hours.
It is often served with sticky rice tape or rendang seasoning. You will see a lot of sekubal cake on holidays, such as Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
10. Maksuba Cake
Maskuba cake is also similar to lapis legit because of its soft texture and sweet taste. This cake is made from simple ingredients, such as sugar, eggs, and coconut milk, which are then steamed until cooked.
What distinguishes maksuba cake from other cakes is the process of beating eggs and sugar. To make maksuba cake, both need to be beaten until fluffy and pale. After that, coconut milk will be poured gradually before steaming.
Maksuba cake is often served at weddings and other traditional events by the people of Sumatra.
That is all some traditional Sumatra food recommendations that you must try when visiting the land of Suwarnadwipa.
While exploring delicious culinary delights under the hot Sumatra sun, your body definitely needs adequate fluid intake. So, as mentioned earlier, don’t forget to always bring AQUA 1500 ml along during your food adventures.
Why #AQUADULU? Because not all water is AQUA. AQUA is naturally filtered through layers of mineral-rich rocks, processed without human contact, and goes through 400 quality checks before reaching you.
AQUA 1500 ml is the perfect companion for your culinary tour in Sumatra—not only because of its large capacity but also because it helps keep you well-hydrated throughout your trip.
Most importantly, AQUA is a proudly Indonesian product, certified Halal, BPOM, and SNI, making it a safe and reliable choice for your daily hydration needs. AQUA is 100% Pure, 100% Indonesian, and 100% Halal.
