Sweet and Teasing Fermented Rice

On celebrating the
Galungan festivity once in six months based on Balinese calendar system, the Balinese have two typical icons namely lawar and tape. Lawar is a delicacy made of minced meat in complete spices sauce and dressing with various vegetables like young banana, papaya, coconut shell, jackfruit or even string bean, while, the tape is white or black fermented rice.

Three or two days before Galungan, household mothers have prepared this well. When this sweet fermented rice is ripe, some will be used for the ingredients of offering and the others for consumption. Certainly, one who makes a visit to the Balinese family on Galungan or the following day will be served with this tape and, usually, added with jaja uli ( cake made of white glutinous rice or ketan). Do not forget, this fermentation also has a by-product, namely brem or a low alcoholic drink. It is also partly used for libation. However, if brem is added with ice cubes, it will become a very sugary welcome drink. Beyond Galungan holiday, lawar is widely available at food stalls across Bali and so is brem. Even, bottled brem has currently been already available for souvenirs at supermarkets. (BTN/029)