Documentation of the traditional Alas food in Southeast Aceh district, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Sutrisno IH, Suwardi AB, Navia ZI, Baihaqi, Fadhilah MA. 2021. Documentation of the traditional Alas food in Southeast Aceh District, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3243-3249. The indigenous and traditional foods of the Alas tribe have a long history and unique traditions that have been passed down for thousands of years. Unfortunately, food tradition is strongly intertwined with the health-related and therapeutic reasoning of food ingredients and preparation methods. However, changes in people's consumption patterns, which prefer fast food, lead to a decline in local knowledge of traditional foods, particularly among the younger generation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to document the traditional Alas food in Southeast Aceh District, Indonesia. The study was conducted in eight subdistricts of Southeast Aceh, Indonesia, namely Lawe Alas, Babul Rahmah, Tanoh Alas, Babussalam, Darul Hasanah, Lawe Bulan, Lawe Sumur, and Bambel subdistricts. The study enlisted 80 respondents (10 from each district) who were chosen at random. The interview was conducted using a questionnaire that covered the respondents' backgrounds, traditional food names, food composition, mode of preparation, and uses. A total of 16 traditional Alas foods were documented, including six types of traditional cuisine and 10 types of traditional snacks. All respondents recognized Manuk Labakh, Ikan Pacik Kule, Puket Megaukh, and Buah Khum Khum as traditional Alas foods. On the other hand, less than 25% of respondents were familiar with some other traditional Alas foods, such as Menekem. The Alas tribe has a great system in place for passing down traditional knowledge from generation to generation. A total of 24 plant species consisting of 21 genera and 14 families was used as traditional Alas food. The Alas tribe prepares a variety of foods from various plant species to maintain their health and contribute to conservation efforts.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by local communities in Sekerak Subdistrict, Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia

“…According to respondents, shrubs are grown in home gardens due to their small size, and in addition to being medicinal plants, several species are used as food and ornamental plants. Plants are grown in home gardens in rural areas for various purposes, including food, medicine, ornamental plants, traditional ceremonies, and family income (Elfrida et al 2020;Suwardi et al 2020b;Sutrisno et al 2021). The fact that cultivated plants are rich in bioactive compounds explains the high frequency of occurrence of medicinal plant species in home gardens.…”

Diversity of herbs and spices plants and their importance in traditional medicine in the South Aceh District, Indonesia

“…Aceh is one of the provinces in Indonesia and is well known for its plants and cultural diversity (Sutrisno et al 2021;Ramaidani and Navia 2022;Suwardi et al 2022). This area is home to 13 indigenous tribes, one of which is the Kluet tribe.…”

Aneuk Jamee traditional foods in the South Aceh District, Indonesia

“…However, changes in people's eating habits favor fast food, resulting in a decline in local knowledge of traditional foods, particularly among the younger generation (Sutrisno et al 2021). The socio-cultural factors in which communities live influence their behavior in selecting, using, and consuming foodstuffs daily, including the type of food and frequency of eating (Baliwati et al 2004).…”

“…Elders play an essential role as guardians of knowledge, passing it down through generations to ensure that traditional knowledge is not lost (Van der Hoeven et al 2013). Involving the younger generation in various traditional activities can improve their knowledge of culture, and, in the long term, will preserve traditional knowledge among them (Navia et al 2020a;Sutrisno et al 2021).…”