bir pletok — Jakarta, Indonesia

Bir pletok is a spiced infusion from the Betawi people of Jakarta, made to mimic the froth of beer without containing alcohol, drunk mainly for warmth despite the tropical climate. The name plays on the word for beer, since the drink is intended to stand in for it at gatherings where alcohol is avoided. It is reported in Jakarta and the surrounding Betawi communities, sold at markets and during festivals, and drunk mostly in the evening. Vendors selling it can be found near markets and along streets after dark, when the drink is often praised for the warming feeling of its spices. To prepare it, ginger, lemongrass, cloves, cinnamon and sappan wood (secang) are simmered in water together with sugar until the liquid takes on a deep color, then strained. Some cooks add a little pepper or nutmeg to sharpen the spice mix further before straining. The strained liquid is shaken or whisked to raise a froth before serving; historically it was shaken in a bamboo tube together with ice. What sets it apart from other spiced drinks of the region is mainly its red color, drawn from the sappan wood, and the fact that it is served with a raised froth rather than plain; it can be served hot or over ice, with the sugar level adjusted to taste.