Are you traveling to Ponorogo but don’t know what souvenirs to bring? This snack would make the perfect gift. It’s Jenang Mirah, a famous souvenir from the City of Reog.
This regency is famous for more than just its satay and other spicy dishes. It also has a sweet treat. It’s called Jenang Mirah, a special Jenang from Ponorogo, or simply Jenang Mirah.
This sweet snack has been part of Ponorogo’s culinary heritage since 1955. The combination of sweet, savory, and rich flavors in every bite is sure to delight anyone who tries it.
It is soft and non-sticky, so it won’t get dirty on your hands. This is because a combination of quality ingredients is chosen to make this jenang. The ingredients include thick coconut milk, white glutinous rice flour, black glutinous rice flour, grated brown sugar, pandan leaves, roasted sesame seeds, plain agar-agar, vanilla powder, granulated sugar, and salt.
Making this mirah jenang requires a lot of hard work and skill. First, dissolve the brown sugar in boiling water. Then, strain the water and mix the sugar with the other ingredients. After you mix everything, you need to stir in the coconut milk.
It takes a long time to mix this sweet treat over a wood-fired stove until it is smooth and heavy. This is where the maker’s patience and strength are essential, resulting in such a delicious mirah jenang.
The person who makes this delicious sweet treat is Mbah Mirah. With her skilled hands, she makes this delicious snack. That’s why this snack is called mirah jenang. At first, Mbah Mirah traveled around selling this jenang. She traveled from village to village, even to markets and train stations, unhesitatingly selling her homemade snacks.
Jenang Mirah is now made at the Jenang Mirah Company in Josari, Jetis, Ponorogo Regency. It’s affordable, so everyone can enjoy it.
You can buy it in different ways. You can buy it whole or already cut into small pieces that are about the size of your pinky finger. Mbah Mirah has spent decades ensuring that the jenang-making tradition remains authentic.
This dish is different from other souvenirs because it has a photo of Mbah Mirah on the packaging. Jenang Miri is more than just a snack — it’s a local culinary heritage. It represents the local knowledge and love of tradition of the Reog City community.
–sh
