At home in the rainforests
As well as being home to the wonderful orangutans, the rainforests of Sumatra are also home to many Indigenous Peoples, including the Batak Pakpak that live in villages on the edge of the forest. In their small gardens, they grow healthy, organic food to feed their families and when there are extra crops they will take them to market to sell.
When the Batak Pakpak Indigenous Peoples of Sumatra talk about the forest, they call it ‘mpung’ in their language which means ‘grandparent’. They feel the forest has age-old wisdom and experience, something to respect and honour, looking after them all. And this is quite true – the forest provides foods, medicines, and building materials, looking after the people living nearby just like a grandparent would!
The power of palm oil
Palm Oil is grown in tropical countries like Indonesia – including on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo most famous for their beautiful rainforests. Palm oil is a very useful ingredient – it helps improve shelf-life of packaged foods and is spreadable even in cold temperatures. So useful in fact that palm oil is in 50% of our packaged foods and 70% of our cleaning products sold in shops here in Wales.
With so much palm oil in our everyday products, it is important that we balance how much of the land is used to grow palm oil and still protect the precious rainforest ecosystems. Businesses that use sustainable palm oil are doing the right thing to support wildlife and reduce deforestation, so look out for the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil logo, or use the Palm Oil Scan app when you shop to help the rainforest thrive.
Food for the soul
Cooking brings communities and families together, be it just your ordinary everyday tea-time meal, or to celebrate birthdays, festivals and different stages of life. For example, when the Batak Pakpak people want to celebrate and show gratitude for all that life has to offer, they love to cook their favourite meal: a sacred dish they call ‘Pelleng’. Often served during a blessing to bring someone protection and courage, this beautiful dish is a feast for the senses. Made from rice mashed until smooth; traditional spices like turmeric, galangal, onions; and decorated with spicy red chilies, all of this mixed together is what makes Pelleng a food that uplifts the spirits and represents the energy of life.
What foods do you cook at home that bring a smile to your face?
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