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Indonesian Cuisine

Bika Ambon

From North Sumatra

Medan's honeycomb-textured cake, perfumed with kaffir lime and pandan, sweet and creamy from coconut milk.

Key ingredients

  • Tepung tapioka
  • Telur
  • Santan
  • Gula
  • Tape singkong
  • Daun jeruk
  • Daun pandan
  • Kunyit
  • Ragi

Origin

Despite the name "Ambon," this cake is a Medan icon. One popular story traces the name to Jalan Ambon street in Medan where it first found a following. Today it's the city's definitive souvenir.

Flavor Profile

The signature texture is vertical honeycomb pockets from a tape (fermented cassava) starter. Sweet and creamy, with strong notes of kaffir lime leaf and pandan.

How It's Served

Sliced cold or at room temperature. Sold in many flavors today: original, pandan, cheese, durian, chocolate.

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