Die to just how much I saw this rink everywhere I assumed that Badak was a big deal throughout the country, but upon further investigation it turned out that this was a real Sumatra thing and a good thing at that.
Said drink was discovered as part of a research trip that took me to the Hotel River Deli, as well as at the strange island that is Samosir An interesting area, but also one unlikely to enter into my favorites list.
What the Sumatra?
Sumatra, or rather in our life of interest Northern Sumatra is an area that belongs to Indonesia and borders both Malaysia, as well as Banda Aceh.
Most Muslim there are still huge Christian pockets, with a major tourist draw being Samosir Island.
And Sumatra Cosine?
I will keep this part very brief as I intend to do an article later, but the cuisine of Sumatra is bad. Essentially it is similar, but different to places like West Timor and West Papua in that local tastes have been pushed out by the Muslim Javanese.
Some might argue that this a form of colonialism, even if they are nor white….
Badak Soft Drink
Once agin I have gone off on Ana tenet instead of talking about the subject of the day, Badak Sarsaparilla.
Badak Sarsaparilla is a drink that is popular in Indonesia, bur particularly in Northern Sumatra, Sumatra and the capital city of Medan.
Badak was manufactured by NV Ijs Fabriek Siantar, ayer to be known as Pabrik Es Siantar, the first Indonesian soft drink company
Started in Medan they initially made ice-cubes, then Passion Fruit concentrate after its 1916 foundation. By the 1920’s they started the “Badak Cola”, which for all intents is actually a sarsaparilla.
To read about ColaQuest click here
Under this name they fought of Coke and Fanta within the region as well as starting a number of other flavors. Alas most are not that common even in Sumatra now, although I have to add that this is one area that Coke, or even Pepsi are not just hard to get, but have barely pieced the local market.
How does Badak taste?
Badak, which means Rhino usually comes in a glass bottle, which of course already makes it good. It tends to cost 5-8000 Rupiah which is 30-50 cents. Generally speaking it is not available in real restaurants, but is a Sumatra street food sensation, certainly making a bigger stand than the street food itself.
Overall there is not too much carbonation and it is not just flavorsome, but also easy to down in one.
Badak Sarsaparilla Test and Liquor Test
On the sarsaparilla quest front I give thus a firm 7.5/10, which makes it damned goos, but not near those of the Philippines, Dr Pepper an Dandelion and Burdock.
Does it mix with liquor? Well this was not exactly a boozy trip, but I did get a chance to do Mango Brandy with it and it was quite good. Overall though I would prefer it with a vodka, or a white rum.
Click the link for my Indonesia Tours.