By Satrio Ardia
Indonesia is a country that has been recognized as a source of flavors and culinary experiences for global markets.
When the Dutch began trading with Indonesia in the 1600s, pepper was one of the commodities they discovered. This gave way to a global demand for Indonesian spices and a trail-blazing export industry. Nearly three centuries later, Indonesia's annual spice exports exceed $4 billion.
In 2016, Indonesia's annual pepper exports exceeded $1 billion, making it the world's second largest producer of pepper after India ($850 million). Other major export products include cardamom ($210 million), cloves ($170 million) and nutmeg ($41 million). These spices are then processed into flavorings or used as flavoring agents in confectionary products such as chocolate, ice cream and sugar confect.
Indonesia's role in the world of spices is not something that we can deny. Indonesian spices had a significant impact on how food has been perceived and created since the 16th century.
The Dutch and British had brought Indonesian spices with them and used them in their cooking. This led to an international culinary revolution, which changed the way people viewed food, ingredients, and cooking itself.
The Chinese had also been introduced to Indonesian spices by Dutch merchants during the 17th century. They became dishes such as chicken rendang and nasi goreng which are now iconic dishes of Indonesia's cuisine.
Indonesian spice traditions were also transferred to other East Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand where they have become part of their cuisine as well.
Indonesia is known for producing a variety of spices that are uniquely flavoured. It is the home of diverse culinary cultures and flavours. These spices have become popular internationally due to the easy access to Indonesian products in Western supermarkets.
The Indonesian spice market has become an attractive market for international food companies, too, because Indonesia’s spices are easily available worldwide. This makes Indonesian spices highly coveted commodities in the global marketplace.
One reason for the success in the West was due to how different it was from other countries that were previously importing Indonesian spices like Thailand and Malaysia which were very similar to each other in terms of flavour profiles.
Where Can You Buy Made In Indonesia Spices Products Online?
Many people wonder where they can buy local spice products made in Indonesia online? With the growing popularity of online shopping, it is becoming easier to find spice products made locally in Indonesia.
There are various sites that sell this kind of product. You can find them on popular sites like