Bika Ambon aka Bingka Ambon or Kueh Ambon

Bika Ambon is a very popular “kue” from Indonesia, the name seeming to suggest its origins from Kota Ambon in Maluku, or better known as the Maloccas Islands in the past. However, its popularity stems not from Ambon but in Medan, several thousand miles away in Northern Sumatra, where very good kek lapis can also be found incidentally. It was postulated by some that the confection was brought by Ambonese traders to Medan where it became viral, so much so that there is now a whole stretch along a street in the heart of the city, Jalan Mojopahit with no less than 30 stores dedicated to the sale of Bika Ambon amongst other popular delectables. Others explained that the name of the kue takes after a local bakery located at an intersection of Jalan Ambon and Jalan Sei Kera, located about two miles away from Jalan Mojopahit, where the first Bika Ambon was supposed to have been made, sold and popularised. We are not food historians so we ain’t gonna dwell too much over its beginnings, since it doesn’t add much to its flavours anyway, but what we do know is that despite its origins in Indonesia, its popularity has since overwhelmed its borders and traveled all over the world. It is known in Malaysia as Bingka Ambon or Kueh Ambon while some folks in the Peranakan community resonate to the name “Kueh Bengkah Sarang”. Whichever way it is being called, Binka Ambon by any other name would taste as good, just as a rose would smell as sweet. (more…)

April 14, 2015 | Categories: Food, Simple Eats | Tags: acuan, apom berkuah, bengka ambon, Bingka Ambon, binka ambon, cakes, coconut cream, coconut water, confections, daon limoh purot, daon pandan, daun limau purut, daun pandan, fermentation, honeycomb cake, indonesian kueh, kueh ambon, kueh bengkah sarang, kuih ambon, lemongrass, pandan leaves, ragi, sagu flour, santan pati, santan pekat, serai, seray, snacks, tapioca flour, tepong sago, tepong ubi kayu, toddy, yeast | 7 Comments