Madu mongso, a traditional snack native to the Java Island, often graces the table during festive Eid moments. Despite not being as popular as modern pastries, people from East Java and Central Java still appreciate this delicacy.

Made from fermented black glutinous rice cooked with sugar, Madu mongso offers a unique mild sweet-sour taste. The name "madu mongso" comes from "madu" which means honey and "mongso" referring to food or season. In essence, madu mongso is a dish as sweet as honey ready to be enjoyed.

Although this treat is as sweet as honey, unfortunately it is now seldom found due to being overshadowed by modern snack trends. Yet ironically enough, madu mongso has been around since the Javanese kingdoms era and was popular among the nobles.

In the past, this snack was served in royal circles and celebration events. Today, madu mongso has become a signature dish for Eid celebrations. Beyond its sweetness lies deep philosophical significance representing the sweetness of victory after fasting for an entire month.

The process of making madu mongso takes quite some time until it becomes like dodol (Indonesian sticky candy). The notable difference lies in its unique packaging resembling colorful candies.

Crafting madu mongso requires top-quality black glutinous rice tape and relatively long time but yields legitimate delicious results. This mirrors the philosophy that human quality oftentimes emerges through lengthy processes.

So let’s savor the deliciousness of Maduo Mongoso while reflecting on its meaning and history behind it.