I love traditional Javanese cuisine very much. Perhaps because I am a Javanese, eating Javanese foods reminds me of where I actually came from. But do you know that some of them already existed more than centuries ago? It means that those culinary had been there since Gajah Mada's era or even when the Prambanan Temple was being built. 

These dishes are still popular in Indonesia today. Perhaps one of you often finds these foods but doesn't realize how old they are.

So here we go; these are 6 foods that have existed since the ancient history of Java, as explained by Prof. Dr. Timbul Haryono, Professor of Archeology, Gadjah Mada University. 

Dendeng

Dendeng is a processed dried meat seasoning with savory spices, a very typical food of West Sumatra. But Dendeng was also well-known in Java for a very long time ago. It's mentioned in the Taji Inscription, which dates to 901 AS from the era of the Medang Kingdom. This kingdom was originally established in Central Java in the 8th century the moved to East Java in the 10th century. 

 Urap

Urap is a mixture of vegetables that are eaten with grated coconut. Urap has a long history because it's also mentioned in the Linggasuntan Inscription, which dates to 929 AD from the era of the Medang Kingdom.

Lalapan

Sundanese is very related to eating a lot of vegetables. This dish turns out to be an ancient food. Lalapan is listed in the Jeru-Jeru Inscription, which dates to 930 AD from the era of the Medang Kingdom. Until now, vegetables seem to be inseparable from the dining table of many Indonesians.

Dodol

This sweet cake is surprisingly around 1,000 years old. Dodol is a snack from Garut, West Java. Dodol is similar to local food from Kudus, Central Java, called Jenang. Dodol has been mentioned in the Javanese version of the Ramayana. The Ramayana itself is often considered the first Indian literary work adapted by the Javanese people.

The Javanese version of the Ramayana is thought to have originated in the late days of the Medang Kingdom when it was still occupying Central Java and had not been transferred to East Java by Maharaja Sindok. The adaptation of the Ramayana to create its Javanese version is estimated to have occurred between 840 AD and 930 AD.

Tape Ketan

Tape Ketan is also listed n the Javanese adaptation of the Ramayana. Estimated in the middle of the 9th century or early 10th century AD. Tape Ketan still exists as a local drink from Muntilan nowadays. The taste is very distinctive, with a mixture of sweet and sour at the same time. 

Pecel 

Pecel is a type of Indonesian salad that consists of vegetables and peanut sauce. Pecel is enjoyed with rice and peanut sauce, karak beras, and salted egg as complementary. Pecel is easy to find in various areas of Java, one of them in Madiun. Pecel is apparently also listed in the Javanese adaptation of the Ramayana.