Seeing the current world’s cuisine landscape, which is very creative and diverse, I sometimes wonder how we could come up with so many varieties of culinary options in this world. In a previous post, I mentioned some varieties of Takjil served in Indonesia as a refreshment for people to break their fast; while certain Takjil is considered a “staple” refreshment for Iftar, the landscape has expanded exponentially, offering endless creative possibilities.
As I dive deeper into eating and sharing ‘takjil’ culture in Indonesia, though the historical information about this topic in Indonesia is still limited, I learned that the practice of breaking fast with Takjil had been done even in the Dutch colonial era and was known to become one of the important element in Muslim celebration in Indonesia. Moreover, the tradition of sharing Takjil with friends and family and the act of sharing Takjil with strangers as a form of love and help has been known to be practiced during this era.
Moreover, with the growing trend of social media and how easy it is for people nowadays to gain inspiration from social media and influencer posting, I found that there is no better time to explore the exciting world’s culinary landscape. Not only have the options for Takjil nowadays become more exciting, but due to the rise of social media, a recent phenomenon called “Takji War” has hit Indonesia, adding an extra layer of excitement to the Ramadhan festivities this year. “Takjil War” is a trending event in Indonesia that is associated with playful “competition” and involves hunting for Takjil and “securing” it before running out of stock when breakfasting time comes.
What is particularly heartwarming in this year’s takjil war phenomenon is that this playful rivalry and competition transcends religious boundaries, with Muslims and non-Muslims joining in the fun. In a recent viral Tiktok video featuring an Indonesian Christian pastor humorously declaring, “Soal agama kita toleran, tapi soal takjil kita duluan,” translated as “When it comes to religion, we’re tolerant, but when it comes to Takjil, we’re first in line,” has gardened positive reactions from many Indonesian commenters, especially those that are Muslim. For many Indonesians, this phenomenon not only adds to the vibrancy of the Ramadhan celebration but also symbolizes the spirit of religious tolerance in the country.
Today’s Takjil menu: Lychee- Orange Dessert
Ingredients
Canned Lychee 6-7 pcs, halved (commonly, many stalls in Indonesia served this takjil using Canned Lychee but feel free to use fresh lychee in this recipe for fresher and brighter taste)
1-2 pcs of mini Mandarin Orange, peeled
2-3 tbsp Coconut gel or Nata De Coco
50 ml Orange juice
50 ml Coconut water
Mint leaves, minced
Peach yogurt (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare all ingredients
- In a serving bowl, combine the lychee, peeled mandarin oranges and coconut gel.
- Add the minced mint leaves to the bowl, followed by the orange juice and coconut water. Optionally, you can include 1-2 tsp of lychee syrup from the canned lychee for added flavour and sweetness.
- Topped the dessert with spoonful of peach yogurt (optional) and Lychee Orange Takjil is ready to be served!
