Photo has been updated on October 1Fresh Andaliman has a small, green and round fruit. The dried fruit of andaliman has an aromatic odor that, for most species, can be described as lemon-like, with more or less pronounced warm. The taste is pungent and biting; it may take some time to develop, but in the end produces a strongly numbing, almost anesthetic feeling on the tongue.
Speaking about Sichuan Pepper, in North America, it is possible to come across names such as Szechwan pepper, Chinese pepper, Japanese pepper, aniseed pepper, Sprice pepper, Chinese prickly-ash, Fagara, sansho, Nepal pepper, Indonesian lemon pepper.
The Food Technology and Industry bulletin of Bogor Agriculture University has stated that andaliman is a specialty spice. Using andaliman in batak culinary makes the food have a longer shelf life. It’s assumed that andaliman has an anti-microbial and antioxidant activity.
PS: This was my first post on Indonesia Eats.
An Indonesian-born who lived in 
Indonesia Eats is written and photographed by Pepy Nasution; an Indonesian-born 
Pepy – this is an apt first post on Indonesia Eats. We were in Lake Toba 3 years ago and met some really nice Batak people. It’s really a fascinating culture.
wow! Thank you! I just saw that. Anyway, the last time I went to Lake Toba when I was 10 years old 🙂
THIS IS GREAT!!! I have been going to Indonesia every year since 2005. I stay with a Batak family from Pangururan, its not far from Toba Lake. I have been trying to learn how to cook the food there and searching the web for recipes. this is the first that explains the food and ingredients … Thank you!!!!
You’re welcome. If you like Batak food, you can see on this blog on the top, there is “Indonesian Recipes” that can be scrolled down and you will find a category “Sumatra food”
Hello Pepe, I was in Balige last week and on Fridays, there’s a weekly Farmer’s Market. It’s here that I got introduced to “Kaffir Lime” and fresh Andaliman. What I’m experimenting is to make an Indian Pickle (Acar) using these two as the primary ingredients, adding fresh turmeric, green and red chillies and ginger. Let me check how they mature over time. Thanks again
Where do I buy it in Indonesia? Will be in Lombok, Bali and Bandung this year.
You mostly are able to buy it in Sumatra and Jakarta. It will be hard to find in Bali or Lombok