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Jakarta Post

The Papringan Market: Great traditional cuisines, crafts and atmosphere

Fri, October 14, 2016   /   02:45 pm
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    Papringan Market in Caruban village, Temanggung, Central Java is rich with a village atmosphere. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

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    A market administrator shows bamboo coins used for transactions at Papringan Market in Caruban village. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

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    Papringan Market is a smoke free zone. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

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    Visitors queue to buy Caruban village traditional cuisines at Papringan Market. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

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    At Papringan Market, visitors can enjoy tempe benguk [non-soybean tempeh], a Caruban village traditional cuisine. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

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    Tempe benguk is a specialty of Caruban village. At Papringan Market, visitors can enjoy various foods made from tempe benguk. They can also buy it raw as a gift for friends. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

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    Vendors offer a vegetarian specialty called “kuban” and various sambal [hot relish] to visitors. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

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    A vendor sells vegetables and sambal in a stall. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

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    Visitors can buy vegetables and sambal at Papringan Market. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

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    Naturally colored batik is a prime product sold at Papringan Market. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

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    Visitors observe locally made wooden radios in a booth. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

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    A girl performs a traditional dance. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

Offering a strong village atmosphere, Papringan Market has become a main tourist attraction in Temanggung, Central Java. The traditional market is called “Papringan” as it is located in the dense bamboo forests. Bamboo trees are locally known as “pring” in Kelingan, Caruban village, Kandangan, Temanggung.

Papringan Market opens once every 35 days, specifically on Sunday Wage, according to the Javanese calendar, from 6:00 a.m. until noon. Vendors display goods on bamboo-made tables called “lincak,” such as traditional culinary delicacies, vegetables and crafts produced by Caruban villagers.   

Another unique aspect of the market is that it does not use rupiah banknotes or coins for transactions. To go shopping, visitors must exchange their money for bamboo-made coins, in 1 pring, 5 pring, 10 pring and 50 pring denominations. One pring is equal to Rp1,000 (US$0.08).

Papringan Market is located one kilometer from the Temanggung-Kandangan highway.

The wonderful scenery of coffee plantations along an asphalt road leading to the market is a unique feature visitors can enjoy.

It was Singgih Susilo Kartono, a local resident, who encouraged the market to promote natural products from Caruban village, especially its traditional cuisines. After finding a proper location, Singgih invited several women to sell homemade food and crafts at Papringan Market.  

“All food sold at Papringan Market is organic, no MSG, artificial food coloring or preservatives. The market is a smoking free area and prohibits the use of plasticbags,” said Singgih.

First held on Jan.10, Papringan Market was previously visited by local residents only.

The market has now attracted tourists who come from outside Temanggung.

Not only generating economic profits to Caruban residents, Papringan Market also serves as a form of local wisdom, culture and natural conservations. The market has become a space where people can remember the golden era of Indonesian traditional markets. (ebf)