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Storm in a herbal cup: Indonesian elixirs get a modern twist

By Arlina Arshadin Jakarta Agence France Presse | China Daily | Updated: 2015-12-01 08:06

The trendy cafe looks like a typical coffee shop in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, but in fact it sells herb-infused brews promising to fix every ailment from coughs to impotence.

Indonesians have for generations taken herbal medicine, known locally as "jamu", as a remedy for common ailments, and many children's early memories include being forced to gulp down concoctions of ingredients such as ginger and turmeric.

Now entrepreneurs have fused the age-old love of tonics made from the archipelago's vast selection of herbs with the younger generation's desire for a fashionable setting, and come up with beverages that focus on modern-day problems.

Storm in a herbal cup: Indonesian elixirs get a modern twist

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