Jamu is believed to have originated during the 17th century, when princesses in the Central Javanese courts of Surakarta and Yogjakarta began experimenting with plants, herbs and spices to make beauty potions. Since then, the use of jamu has expanded massively and an entire beauty regime can be created just on jamu alone, from facial masks to hair conditioners and hand creams.
Jamu has four basic functions: to cure illness, to prevent disease and maintain good health (by promoting blood circulation and increasing metabolism), to relieve aches and pains (by reducing inflammation and aiding digestion) and to correct malfunctions (such as infertility and irregular menstruation).
Up to 150 natural ingredients are used to produce jamu. Raw ingredients include the leaves, bark and roots of spices such as ginger, tamarind, tumeric and cinnamon with natural sweeteners like palm sugar often added for flavour.
Today, jamu gendong (ladies selling jamu) can be seen throughout Indonesia. With bottles of jamu in a basket slung over their shoulders with a slendang (carry cloth), they go from door to door in the kampung, keeping the age-old tradition alive.
