Bir jawa : history, gastrodiplomacy, and health benefits of a Javanese non-alcoholic beverage (opens in new tab)

Bir jawa is a traditional non-alcoholic beverage from Java, Indonesia, renowned for its unique combination of aromatic herbs and spices, such as ginger, cardamom, cloves, sappan wood, cinnamon, lemongrass, lime juice, and sugar (either rock or granulated). Supplementary ingredients such as pandan leaves, alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica), black pepper, nutmeg, and galanga enhance their intricate flavor and fragrance. Notwithstanding its designation—signifying “Javanese beer”—bir jawa is non-f...