Tiwul (Dried Cassava)

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A. Overview

Cassava is the alternative food for some Indonesian while waiting for their rice to yield. But for the people of Gunungkidul, cassava has been their staple food since long time ago. Through processing, they make tiwul out of cassava as a food in place of rice. Tiwul has a similar taste to rice but the texture is finer than rice and shaped like small balls.

Making cassava into tiwul is quite simple. First, peel the cassava, and then dry it in the sun. A dried cassava is called gaplek. A long time ago, gaplek was pounded using stone mortar to make tapioca flour. Nowadays, people make tapioca out of gaplek using a particular type of grinding machine. Then, the tapioca is given a little water and stirred into small round shape as big as kacang hijau (small grean peas). Next, those small balls are steamed for around 20 to 30 minutes until they become tiwul. To give it a more sour taste, tiwul needs to be steamed using a wood fire. This traditional food made from cassava is best eaten when still warm with salted fish and onion spicy sauce as a side dish.

These days, the Gunungkidul people dietary habits have been changed from eating tiwul to rice. This dietary change is influenced by urbanization, especially of the younger generation. The society’s dietary habit changed gradually because it is influenced by urban society which has rice for its staple food. This rice consumption habit is continuing when they get back to their kampongs in Gunungkidul. The change is also because of the governor’s success in developing the system of rain-fed rice field and as a result people plant rice in their fields.

Although the dietary changed, it does not mean tiwul is being left behind. Tiwul used to be a substitute for rice, but now it has been changed into a snack by adding shaved coconut and brown sugar to make it taste sweet and sour. The food which was branded as village food now has become a popular souvenir for visitors from outside Gunungkidul.

B. Features

The special characteristic of tiwul is its sweet and sour taste. Besides this, you can taste the brown sugar flow together with shave coconut. The small round shape and slightly chewy texture makes this special food from Gunungkidul delicious, even more so when still warm.

Along with consumer demand, tiwul has been modified into instant tiwul which is more practical, hygienic and durable without any preservatives or coloration. Plastic packaging makes tiwul a high class food. Cooking tiwul is easy, it only needs to be steamed, and some products only need to be added to some boiling water and in a few minutes it is ready to be eaten. It makes it easier to enjoy because it can be consumed anytime and anywhere.

Food researchers have created instant tiwul which is mixed with kacang hijau (small grean peas) flour, soya flour and potato flour. Moreover, this plastic packed instant tiwul has added Vitamin A, iron and iodine which make tiwul more nutritious. There are various flavors, chocolate, sweet, sour and fried rice flavor and with the sauce one in lodeh (a kind of soup), chicken curry and sweet sour flavors. These various flavors are offered to fulfill consumer demand.

There are some advantages people can get from consuming tiwul. Although the calories are lower than rice, tiwul is greater in fat, calcium, iron and Vitamins A and C. Additionally, tiwul is believed to prevent gastric pains.

C. Location

Packed tiwul is easy to get in souvenir stores in Gunungkidul. One of them is located at Jalan Pramuka No. 36, Wonosari. In this store there is tiwul packed in besek (boxes made from bamboo) and tiwul in tumpeng (cone-shaped container). Furthermore, you can find tiwul at traditional markets in Gunungkidul such as those in Wonosari, Semanu and Playen. Tiwul which is offered in traditional markets is usually wrapped in banana leaf.

D. Prices

The price of tiwul varies based on the packaging. The price for tiwul in besek is around Rp 5,000 – Rp 15,000, whereas for tiwul in tumpeng it is about Rp 45,000. For instant tiwul in plastic packaging, you can pay Rp 5,000/pack, for tiwul in traditional markets you only need to pay Rp 1,000-Rp 2,000/pack.

Text: Samsuni
Photo(s): Collection of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Queenty Wulandari
(Primary data and various sources)

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