In Indonesia, non-Muslims join in Ramadan fun with race to buy popular takjil snacks

These takjil snacks are so tempting that even non-Muslims want them, sparking a so-called “takjil war” to get to the most popular snacks before they sell out. Read more at straitstimes.com.

JAKARTA – If anything can make Indonesians live up to the national motto of “unity in diversity”, it’s food.

This is never more so than during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which even has its own set of culinary vocabulary.

There is ngabuburit, waiting for the time to break fast; bukber, short for buka bersama, referring to breaking fast together with friends or colleagues; and takjil, light snacks to break fast.

The snacks, which traditionally include dishes such as kolak (stewed bananas and sweet potatoes in coconut milk) and es campur (shaved ice with syrup), are meant to be a quick, sweet treat for Muslims who have refrained from eating over the last 12 or so hours.

But these takjil are so tempting that even non-Muslims want them, sparking a so-called “takjil war” to get to the most popular snacks before they sell out.

During Ramadan in Indonesia, takjil vendors regularly line the streets from the early afternoon. Pasar kaget (pop-up markets) offering takjil are also a common sight in cities across the country. In Jakarta, many of the takjil spots are already crowded by 3pm and the most popular dishes can be sold out as early as 5pm, over an hour before the time to break fast.