Local Drinks

1. Arak

   Clear spirit distilled from brem or palm sap

   Usage

   The dictionary describes a clear, colourless spirit distilled from brem or tuak. Home-made spirit can be unsafe, so buy only from a reputable shop.

   Grammar Note

   The verb ngarak has a different meaning and is unrelated to the drink.

2. Brem

   Traditional drink fermented from sticky rice

   Usage

   The dictionary describes an alcoholic drink made by fermenting black or white sticky rice.

   Grammar Note

   The question about trying brem is on the food cards.

3. Tuak

   Palm beer from fermented sap

   Usage

   The dictionary describes beer from the sap of coconut, sugar palm or lontar palm flower buds, fermented naturally; it turns to vinegar quickly. It is an andap word; the polite word is sajeng.

   Grammar Note

   The same word can also mean the sweet sap itself.

4. Sajeng

   Polite word for tuak (palm beer)

   Usage

   The dictionary lists it as the alus mider (polite) word. It is also used in ritual contexts; when ordering as a visitor, tuak is understood.

   Grammar Note

   Sajeng is the alus form of tuak.

5. Loloh

   Balinese herbal tonic

   Usage

   The dictionary defines it as traditional medicine taken internally (as opposed to boreh and uap used externally) and as a herbal tonic made and drunk only in Bali.

   Grammar Note

   Loloh is a mider word, the same at every speech level.

6. Loloh cemcem

   Traditional Balinese drink made from cemcem leaves

   Usage

   The dictionary has a headword and describes a traditional Balinese drink made from cemcem leaves. Home-made versions vary in taste.

   Grammar Note

   Loloh is the herbal drink and cemcem the name of the leaf.

7. Wedang

   Coffee (polite word)

   Usage

   The dictionary gives wedang as the alus mider word for coffee; the everyday word is kopi. This differs from the Javanese wedang (hot drink).

   Grammar Note

   Wedang is the alus form of kopi.

8. Cendol

   Iced drink with green jelly noodles, palm sugar and coconut milk

   Usage

   The dictionary describes an iced drink made with pandan-coloured jelly, palm sugar and coconut milk.

   Grammar Note

   Cendol is an andap word.

9. Yeh-yehan

   General word for a drink

   Usage

   The dictionary entry for yeh (water) lists yeh-yehan as the general term for a drink.

   Grammar Note

   Yeh is water (andap; alus is toya), and yeh-yehan is its reduplicated form.

10. Titiang nunas loloh

    I would like a loloh

    Usage

    To ask for the herbal drink. Nunas is the humble form for one's own request. The sentence is built from verified words.

    Grammar Note

    Nunas is an alus sor word, used for one's own request.

11. Titiang nunas cendol

    I would like a cendol

    Usage

    To order the iced dessert drink. The sentence is built from verified words.

    Grammar Note

    The pattern is the same as other ordering sentences.

12. Loloh puniki saking napi?

    What is this loloh made from?

    Usage

    To check the ingredients for allergies or taste. The sentence is built from verified words.

    Grammar Note

    Saking means from and napi is the alus madya word for what.

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