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A trip down memory lane with a fruit popsicle
BITE SIZED: Suyoto sells sliced fruit popsicles in Fatahillah Park, West Jakarta
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BITE SIZED: Suyoto sells sliced fruit popsicles in Fatahillah Park, West Jakarta. (JP/Triwik Kurniasari)
For some people, tasting a fruit popsicle, locally known as es lilin, is like going back in time to their childhood.
Tarno, 55, looks at the various kinds of fruit popsicles sold from a cart in front of St. Theresia school in Menteng, Central Jakarta. The cart belongs to Ade, a popsicle vendor.
Tarno opts for the avocado popsicle.
"I like the original avocado flavor, the one without chocolate or peanuts, because it tastes more genuine.
"This was the only type of ice cream available when I was young, and I really like it," he says, licking his popsicle.
"It's getting more difficult to find this kind of popsicle, you know."
He says that he often buys popsicles from Ade when he picks his boss' child up from the elementary school.
"For me, a fruit popsicle is more delicious and tastes more natural than modern ice cream, which tend to have a lot of preservatives. I sometimes bring some popsicles home for my children," says Tarno, who has been Ade's customer for years.
The younger generations are also becoming fans of the fruit popsicle.
Atrin, 24, says she enjoys fruit popsicles more than modern ice cream.
"Modern ice cream might offer more interesting packaging and creamier textures, but fruit popsicles are still the best," says the Menteng resident.
"Fruit popsicles are yummier and, of course, cheaper. I only spend Rp 1,500 on an original coconut popsicle," says Atrin.
Students from the area stand in line to buy the fruit popsicles when school gets out.
"My friends told me that fruit popsicles were good. They were right. My favorite one is coconut," says Michelle, a fourth grader.
The rising popularity of fruit popsicle has driven Dewi Chandra, a housewife, to open a small-scale popsicle business at her home in Serpong, Banten.
"Why did I choose to sell fruit popsicles? Because it is so unique and rare right now. There are only very few fruit popsicle businesses in Jakarta and Banten," the 31-year-old woman says.
"It may be an old kind of ice cream, but the fact that this is old will attract people to buy the popsicle.
"Selling fruit popsicles is nostalgic for me because I used to buy one from a popsicle vendor after school. I still love them today," says Dewi, who began to sell fruit popsicles in April this year.
She says she bought homemade fruit popsicles from a popsicle supplier in Bandung, West Java, and then resold them in and around Serpong, Tangerang.
"It's made from simple and natural ingredients, such as coconut milk, unrefined sugar and fresh fruit. There are 16 different flavors. The price of a single fruit popsicle is only Rp 2,500," she says.
"Many kids come to my house often to buy the popsicle. People can also order my popsicle with a minimum order of 50 pieces. But they should collect their orders from my house because I have not yet provided a delivery service.
"Hopefully, I can expand my popsicle business to include a delivery service." -- JP/Triwik Kurniasari
