Get to know rebok: snacks as a secret of togetherness, from Manggarai
Picture from Fransiskus Rivaldo Santoso on Floresnews.id
https://www.floresnews.id/eksosbud/amp/4998118485/10-tempat-wisata-di-manggarai-yang-memiliki-sejuta-pesona-menarik-cocok-bagi-anda-yang-hobi-berselancar
Indonesia is a country that has many beautiful islands, one of which is the island of Flores. Flores is one of the islands in the province of East Nusa Tenggara. The name "Flores" comes from the Portuguese word "Cabo de Flores" which means "Cape of Flowers". Moving on from their origins, in Flores we can find lots of new things that you might never have imagined before, such as culture and traditions, clothes, historical relics to their food.
In Flores there are various types of food from heavy or light food, sweet, salty to spicy, dry or soupy, to the famous or even the hidden ones. In this article, we want to tell many people that there is a unique traditional snack from one of the districts in Flores, namely Manggarai, called Rebok.
Picture from Muhammad Fiqih on suguhanku.com
https://www.suguhanku.com/2022/11/rebok-makanan-khas-manggarai.html?m=1
Rebok is a traditional snack from Manggarai with the main ingredients of cornstarch or rice flour and grated coconut. At first glance, Rebok looks similar to Sagon, but the difference is that Sagon is formed when it is produced, while Rebok is eaten directly as powder. Apart from the two main ingredients above, we can also add other ingredients such as vanilla and sugar to produce a better aroma and taste. Rebok is made by pounding all the ingredients into powder, using a traditional pestle called Alu Agu Ngencung. Usually Rebok is served during traditional ceremonies or when we entertain guests.
In this sophisticated era, some people might think that how to make Rebok is difficult, but in fact, how to make Rebok is effortless. First we prepare cornstarch, or you can also use rice flour, then grated coconut, vanilla, sugar, and turmeric (optional). You can replace the sugar with brown sugar if you want. Turmeric is an optional ingredient, its function is to give color to the Rebok, but if you don't have turmeric, it's not a problem at all.
After preparing all the ingredients, first thing first, you can start by mixing cornstarch or rice flour, grated coconut, grated turmeric or turmeric juice, and vanilla in a pan. Then roast everything until brown. Sugar or brown sugar can be added while roasting all the dry ingredients or after. Rebok is ready to be served. Serve with tea or coffee for a better taste.
Some fun facts you need to know about Rebok; Rebok is a traditional snack that takes a long time to make, especially if all the ingredients used are really raw, such as flour, ground corn, grated coconut, and palm sugar. The raw material is the reason why the process of making Rebok takes a long time and has its own meaning.
Do you ever wonder if the food we eat has a meaning? If you haven't, Rebok will make you think otherwise. Rebok is a traditional snack which is made by many people. Start from pounding the rice, grinding the corn, and harvesting the nira to make brown sugar. From this process the sense of togetherness was formed. We will find warmth when working together to make Rebok because we know how difficult and long it takes to make Rebok so we can appreciate that time together more.
Picture from Kompas.com
https://amp.kompas.com/travel/read/2022/09/23/101400127/8-oleh-oleh-makanan-khas-labuan-bajo-yang-populer-ada-kompiang
In addition, when they want to eat Rebok, usually the people of Manggarai themselves eat it on the same plate for two to three people, so that the sense of togetherness and a sense of kinship is very strong. Then another fun fact is, in Manggarai there is such a thing as "Senyum Rebok'' or Rebok's smile, which is a situation where you are eating Rebok with your family, there is no talk, and when there is something funny, you can only smile, because if you laugh while eating Rebok there is possibility of choking, so to avoid choking hazard you can only smile, namely, Rebok's smile.
Picture by Alfonsius Abun on Jurnalflores.co.id
https://www.jurnalflores.co.id/lifestyle/amp/pr-7765675574/fakta-dan-kelebihan-gadis-manggarai-flores-ntt
According to Jelita, a beautiful woman from manggarai, there is one more fun fact from the word "Senyum Rebok". Many manggarai people use the word "Senyum Rebok" as an idiom. They will say, "Enu, senyum dite hitu manis keta haer, senyum rebok, jadi aku nara ga loda nai muing agu ite. Leep keta daku one nai, senyum rebok dite hitu enu, cala ngaceng, koe aku jadi pacar dite hitu" which means "girl, your smile is as sweet as a rebok smile, your smile makes me fall in love and your smile makes my heart calm, can I be your boyfriend?"
"A smile as sweet as the rebok of Manggarai’s girl"
This is one of the "pick up lines" that is usually said by young people in Manggarai who are in love with a lovely woman in Manggarai. However, keep in mind that this sentence should not be uttered carelessly, especially if it is said with someone we just met. Instead of getting a girlfriend, we can even be considered as perverts. Remember where we are, friends!
So, Rebok is a traditional snack that comes from Manggarai with the main ingredients of rice flour and cornstrach. It is made by grinding all the raw materials into powder and then roasting them until they smell good. Rebok is served when entertaining guests or there is a traditional ceremony, and is suitable to be served with your favorite tea or coffee. Apart from its delicious taste, Rebok also has a deep meaning, namely a sense of togetherness. This feeling arises when we participate in producing Rebok, when we know that it takes a long time to produce Rebok so we can appreciate a process.
