Ok, this is part two of my search for salak (previous posting about Sleman, Java). I again arranged for a private car & driver and told the driver that I wanted to visit the market / farms in the Sibetan area. From my research, I knew that there were probably in excess of 20 varieties of the Bali salak, Salacca zalacca ssp. amboinensis in this area. This was to be our first stop to guarantee success. We got there at about 9:30 - 10 am and found the market completely empty -- it was over and the vendors had already left. I told the driver that was Bali's salak capital and that there had to be farms around and I wanted to visit one. The driver didn't seem to know anything about it and basically told me I was wrong. He made a feeble attempt by visiting an ornamental plant nursery & asking there and then reported back that there was nothing in the area. So I grudgingly went on with the sightseeing portion of the trip.
I checked my files & the internet when I got back to the hotel. We had another day scheduled with this same driver so I sent him the information & told him we WOULD visit the farms the next day, non-negotiable. He now figured out where the farms were and said he knew the area. It was in Selat in the Sibetan region. Upon reaching the area, I had him stop at the first farm stand we came across to insure that we did not get "skunked" again. The had "Bali" salak and Gula Pasir (I was never able to find out exactly what Bali salak is -- I think it is like the modern day Hawaiian expression "poi dog" -- a mutt of uncertain lineage.) I bought 1/2 kg of Gula Pasir for 30,000 (about $2.25). The fruit was very sweet and "fruity".
We arrived at the farm in the article, Agro Abian Salak. It would have been easy to miss -- it was located high above the road with a pathway leading up to it. The farmer was a very inventive guy. He grows about 12 or so varieties and made salak coffee from the seed, salak tea from the skin, dried salak chips, salak honey, & salak vinegar. We toured his nursery & got to try 4 or 5 different varieties. Unfortunately, he only had enough of one, nenas (also spelled nanas) to sell us. I got a kg for 20,000 (about $1.50). I will post further about the tasting and some of the varieties he has on his farm.
Pics below:
- the farm, high above the street
- some of the products he produces
- a couple of pics of the farmer & his plants -- AWAS! (caution) lots of sharp thorns
- a close up of a Balinese salak -- these have tiny spines on them -- I did not notice these on the Javans, unless they had been cleaned off on those