“Ever wonder what it’s like to eat cassava rice?” asks a voice. That’s what you will experience today in Cireundeu. This village holds a unique culinary secret. It has a fascinating history tied to its staple food.
Cireundeu is a suburb in South Tangerang. It is in the Banten Province of Indonesia. But its real claim to fame lies in its residents’ devotion to cassava.
The story of Cireundeu begins in the 16th century. Its name comes from two words. “Ci” means water. “Rendeu” refers to the Staurrogyne elongate plant. This plant was commonly used as medicine. People also ate it as a vegetable. So Cireundeu has historical ties to water and this special plant.
For centuries, the people of Cireundeu divided their land. They knew it as Leuweung Larangan, Leuweung Tutupan, and Leuweung Baladahan. The forest or “Leuweung” had great significance to them.
But the most interesting part of Cireundeu’s story is its relationship with cassava. Cassava came from South America. It spread to Indonesia in the 16th century. It became a staple crop.
During the Dutch colonial period, Indonesians struggled with food shortages. The Dutch monopolized their harvest. In 1918, a man named Mama Ali began a revolution. He shifted the community’s diet from rice to other foods. This was to resist the Dutch monopoly.
It took time to find the right staple food. They tried hanjeli, corn, and taro. Finally, they discovered cassava. It was the perfect alternative.
Mama Ali’s daughter-in-law, Ibu Omah Asnama, figured out how to prepare it. But young children had trouble eating cassava. They were not used to it. So the community created the Ngayun dance ritual. This made children feel like they were eating rice. It stopped them from complaining.
By 1924, Cireundeu fully embraced cassava rice. They call it “Sangu,” the same word for rice. But they call the cassava ingredient “Sangueun.”
The people of Cireundeu live by an ancestral saying. It translates to “It’s okay if you don’t have a rice field as long as you have rice. It’s okay if you don’t have rice as long as you can cook rice. It’s okay if you can’t cook rice as long as you can eat. It’s okay if you can’t eat as long as you are strong.” This summarizes Cireundeu’s history. Their ancestors fasted from rice. This was to gain inner and outer freedom.
So as you stand here in Cireundeu, remember this. This village shows resilience. It is an independent spirit. It is a deep connection to its traditions. The story of cassava rice is a testament to their strength. It is a dedication to their unique way of life.