Jakarta, IO – The Indonesian traditional herbal medicine drink popularly known as Jamu will soon be designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry’s (Kemendikbudristek) culture director general Hilmar Farid said the proposal was sent on April 7, 2022.
Hilmar confirmed that this would be implemented this year. This means that within a month and a half the announcement will be made.
“This is a heads-up, jamu will be designated this year as an Intangible Cultural Heritage or Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO,” said Hilmar, per Tempo.co, Friday (17/11).
“What is designated as heritage is the people’s ability to create it, so it is not the product or the object, but the skill of the person in concocting, brewing and of course there are various techniques used, that is what is registered, it is the knowledge that is registered, not the product,” he explained.
Read: Spirit Of Diversity On Display At “Pulo Geulis Setapak Keberagaman” Photo Exhibition
Like other Indonesian cultural products, Hilmar said that jamu is a cultural heritage that must be preserved as the original knowledge of the Indonesian people which has been used for thousands of years across generations.
Jamu is renowned for its preventive and curative properties derived from the local wisdom of the inhabitants of the Indonesian archipelago that is rich in herbal medicinal plants and spices rich in health benefits. (at)