Alcohol-free Beer

Bir Pletok (Pletok beer) is one of Indonesia traditional drink. It comes from Betawi, a tribe from Jakarta. Bir Pletok history starts from the Dutch colonial era. It was when some Betawi people were invited to party by the Dutch. They saw wine and wanted to make similar drink. Due to they aren’t allowed to drink alcohol, they made an imitation of it. So they stewed sappan bark, ginger, lemongrass, orange leaf, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar to get a drink that look like beer in visual as well as warming our body. Just like beer, but it won’t make you drunk. ‘Pletok’ is an onomatopoeia of popping sound when wine bottle is opened. Until now Bir Pletok has become a typical Betawi drink that’s usually served at their weddings. Luckily I don’t need to go to Jakarta or make my own to get Bir Pletok. It’s now also sold in my city (Bandung) in a practical bottle package.