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Gibran Rakabuming launches new beverage brand
Gibran aims to revamp Indonesian traditional drinks through Goola.
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Goola's 'es doger jeger' is served cold with adjustable levels of sweetness. (JP/Ni Nyoman Wira)
G
ibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, has launched a drink brand called Goola, which features traditional Indonesian beverages. Goola’s first outlet has opened its doors in Cikini, Central Jakarta.
Set to be under different management from Markobar, a martabak (sweet or savory pancake) joint also owned by Gibran, Goola offers five beverages. They are es doger jeger, es merdeka (milk with sago pearl and coconut foam), teh pandan coco (pandan tea with coconut foam), teh melati coco (jasmine tea with coconut foam) and jeruk nipis sagu mutiara.
Gibran’s favorite, es doger jeger, is said to be the original version of es doger that consists of syrup, milk, tape ketan hijau (green fermented sticky rice), fermented cassava, coconut meat and dried coconut topped with coconut milk foam. Compared to the usual es doger found in traditional markets, Goola’s es doger is easier to consume on-the-go as all of the ingredients have been finely cut.
Meanwhile, the brand’s jeruk nipis sagu mutiara (key lime sago pearl) seems to be a mash-up between non-carbonated lime squash with red sago pearl and mint leaves. The texture of the sago pearl may remind you of tapioca pearl, but it is smaller and chewier. This non-dairy drink also suits vegans.
All of Goola's beverages are served cold with adjustable levels of sweetness, with prices starting at Rp 19,000 ($1.20).
Read also: Gibran’s Markobar to expand to the Philippines
“We aim to introduce our traditional drinks to younger generations, so we’re using modern packaging,” said Gibran during the grand opening on Sept. 16 in Central Jakarta. “We also chose a catchy name that can be easily pronounced by Indonesians and foreigners.”
Gibran said the beverages had been adjusted to suit the tastes of younger folk, such as by using coconut milk foam, while still offering an authentic taste.
Kevin Susanto, Gibran’s partner in Goola, told The Jakarta Post that 18 flavors had been prepared for future releases. “We want to bring Goola to the global stage,” Kevin said.
Similar to Kevin, Gibran also said they wanted to expand to other cities and abroad, but their current focus was Jakarta. “We are targeting malls and office buildings,” he said.
Gibran is no stranger to incorporating traditional flavors into his food and beverage brand. For instance, Markobar offers beras kencur (mixed rice herbal drink) and gula asem (tamarind and sugar drink). (wng)
