Indonesia is well-known for its wide variety of spices and herbs, one of which is Javanese Turmeric or Temulawak (“Curcuma xanthorizza”). In a nutshell, temulawak is a spice plant native to Indonesia rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

For centuries, temulawak has been observed to yield several health benefits. For instance, temulawak drinks have been consumed to relieve nausea, dizziness, and cold symptoms. Moreover, Indonesian parents also often use this herb to help increase their children’s appetite. Although it originated from Indonesia, especially the island of Java, temulawak has been spread to many countries across the Southeast Asian region, including Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

However, if you live in a non-ASEAN country, worry not; you still might have a chance of finding this unique herb. Besides ASEAN countries, Indonesia also exports temulawak to China, India, Japan, Korea, and some countries in the American and European regions. Curious to learn more about temulawak exports in Indonesia? Continue reading the below article to find out five facts about temulawak export in Indonesia!

India and Malaysia are the leading country destination for temulawak exports in Indonesia.

According to Katadata, India and Malaysia are the two main destinations for temulawak exports in Indonesia. In 2018, Indonesia exported almost 75% of the total export volume to India and Malaysia, specifically around 9.000 tons and 1.900 tons to each country. Furthermore, both countries are also the leading destinations for other Indonesian herbs, such as ginger and turmeric.

In 2019, the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) released 49.187 boxes of temulawak for export to Cambodia.

As the benefits of temulawak become more recognized internationally, the demand for temulawak in the international market has also increased. PT. SOHO Global Health (SGH), a pharmaceutical company that produces modern herbal medicine, collaborated with the Indonesian government, academics, and several business actors to develop indigenous herbs from Indonesia in 2019. The company developed organic Temulawak plantations with the concept of Seed to Patient under the SOHO Center of Excellence in Herbal Research (SCEHR). The company also exported 49.187 boxes of temulawak plantations to Cambodia.

Temulawak plants mainly grow in Java, Kalimantan, and Maluku.

Many temulawak plants can be found in Java, Kalimantan, and Maluku, among thousands of islands in Indonesia. According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), in 2020, the island of Java produced the most temulawak plants compared to other Indonesian islands, especially the eastern part of Java which made more than 18,000,000 kg of temulawak a year.

As a type of herb with many benefits, more countries have shown interest in importing temulawak from Indonesia. If you’re interested in learning more about temulawak export, make sure that you have adequate research on the sources so that you only get the best quality of temulawak for your export business. Good luck!

References:
1. https://www.bps.go.id/indicator/55/63/1/produksi-tanaman-biofarmaka-obat-.html
2. https://www.viva.co.id/gaya-hidup/kesehatan-intim/1192267-temulawak-tanah-air-ternyata-diminati-di-berbagai-negara
3. https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2020/03/04/bisa-cegah-corona-negara-mana-tujuan-ekspor-jahe-indonesia