Chilli And Herb Chocolates Sweeten Entry Of Tourists Into Indonesia

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya JAKARTA, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- Fancy tucking into chilli-flavoured chocolate laced with herbs (jamu) and shredded meat. Sounds weird? Not according to the Indonesian tourist industry which intends to sweeten the entry of tourists into the country by luring them with such chocolates which are already a hit in local markets. Produced by small and medium enterprises, the chocolates go by brand names like 'Monggo', 'Coklat Tolak Miskin' and 'Sesuwatu Banged', according to a report in the Kompas Daily on Sunday. The report said the 'Monggo' chocolate, produced by Kotagede in Yogyakarta for example, has been operating the chocolate business since 2003, with chilli and ginger flavours. Recognised as a pioneer in the local chocolate industry, Monggo's production garnered sales of five billion rupiahs a year. Meanwhile, a chocolate enterprise in Garut, Jawa Barut which started its business in 2009, produces the 'Chocodot' chocolate. It is a combination of chocolate, 'dodol', honey, coffee bean, dates and 'serunding daging' and 'serunding ikan'. Having cast a spell on tourists visiting Garut for its unique chocolates, other entrepreuners have followed suit with brand names like 'Coklat Roslyn' produced by Restoran Cibiuk, and 'Chocdol' by Dodol Picnic. 'Coklat Roslyn', for example, is a combination of honey, chocolate and 'kremes' comprising potatoes, sugar, fruits and corn chips. In Yogyakarta, the newcomer in 2010 was the 'Coklat Roso', a combination of chocolate with herbs, rice, turmeric and lemon. -- BERNAMA