Andaliman – A Family of Sichuan Pepper

By Indonesia Eats / Culture, Indonesian Cooking, Sumatra Food

Photo has been updated on October 1Being a half of Tapanuli (Batak) descendant, I should introduce Andaliman. In which a common ingredient to be used in North Sumatra. It’s added to many dishes such as arsik (cooked fish with spices) and sambal andaliman Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC) is native to North Sumatra. The plant grows wild in Tapanuli and is a part of the Rutacea family and close to a Sichuan or Szechwan pepper (Z. piperitum, Z. simulans, and Z. schinifolium). This andaliman also has a natural antioxidant source.

Fresh 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.

16 thoughts on “Andaliman – A Family of Sichuan Pepper”

Reese@SeasonwithSpice
October 19, 2011 at 8:44 PM

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.

Reply
1. Indonesia Eats
  October 19, 2011 at 10:10 PM
  
  wow! Thank you! I just saw that. Anyway, the last time I went to Lake Toba when I was 10 years old 🙂
  
  Reply
  1. Kwajman04
    March 8, 2014 at 11:35 PM
    
    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!!!!
    
    Reply
    1. Indonesia Eats
      March 9, 2014 at 5:34 PM
      
      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”
      
      Reply
      1. Vikrant
        February 20, 2018 at 4:17 AM
        
        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
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sabine
January 9, 2018 at 12:24 PM

Where do I buy it in Indonesia? Will be in Lombok, Bali and Bandung this year.

Reply
1. Indonesia Eats
  May 8, 2019 at 5:19 PM
  
  You mostly are able to buy it in Sumatra and Jakarta. It will be hard to find in Bali or Lombok
  
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