Denpasar –
Apart from tourism, Bali is also known for its typical food and drinks. On average, typical Balinese snacks and drinks have a strong taste, from spicy to sweet.
In the middle of Denpasar City, there is a place that provides typical Balinese snacks and drinks, ranging from rujak, Balinese porridge, to daluman ice. It’s called Gula Bali the Joglo.
 Gula Bali the Joglo on Jalan Merdeka, Denpasar, Sunday (20/11/2024). (Rizki Setyo) |
Here, everything uses real sugar from Balinese farmers. The owner of Gula Bali the Joglo, Anak Agung Gurah Ryan Diamanta, explained that this is a family business that emphasizes the taste of its sugar as its characteristic.
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“We take the sugar directly from the farmers, that is the difference here,” said Riyan when met by detikBali at the location, Sunday (20/10/2024).
He explained how his family’s business started. Initially, Riyan and his mother sold rujak and typical Balinese market snacks on the side of the road near the Gula Bali location since 2009.
As time went by, the merchandise became busy and many customers began to buy back and forth. Riyan and his mother decided to build a bigger Gula Bali in 2022.
“As time went by, we were busy, there were lots of requests (to) expand the place. Finally we thought about the concept,” he explained.
What is also unique about Gula Bali is that the concept and atmosphere are packaged like Yogyakarta, namely joglo which is typical of that special city. This concept was designed by his father Riyan.
 Gula Bali the Joglo on Jalan Merdeka, Denpasar, Sunday (20/11/2024). (Rizki Setyo) |
Gula Bali’s favorite menu is cassava snow, fried cassava covered in liquid sugar on top. The menu is inspired by Thai snacks.
Riyan and his mother went to Thailand to attend a fashion event because his mother used to own a kebaya business.
“And trying the culinary delights there, I discovered this Thai cassava,” continued the 27 year old man.
Then, he tried to make a similar menu but failed. He distributed the failed cassava to neighbors to taste so it wouldn’t be wasted. However, the neighbors’ reaction was that they liked Riyan and his mother’s concoction, so in the end that was what became the snow cassava menu at their place.
“If the Balinese one has shaved rujak, rujak with pindang sauce is typical of Bali,” he said.
Then, other snacks include laklak, pukis, banana rai, and various kinds of sticky rice. Every week, he has a new menu that is only released once a week.
“What you are looking for is snow cassava, shaved salad. If the food is heavy, it’s chicken betutu and tipat with betutu sauce,” explained Riyan.
The average price at Bali Sugar is still affordable, starting from IDR 10 thousand to just IDR 35 thousand. The location is on Jalan Merdeka II Number 16, Sumerta Klod, East Denpasar, Denpasar City and other branches are on Jalan Merdeka Raya Number 6, Kuta, Badung.
 Gula Bali the Joglo on Jalan Merdeka, Denpasar, Sunday (20/11/2024). (Rizki Setyo) |
One of the visitors from Denpasar, Rika Juliantari (25) said she had been to Gula Bali three times. He always orders tipat betutu sauce, cassava snow and ice daluman.
“The favorite thing is the cassava snow and ice daluman, so it tastes authentic,” he said.
Apart from the taste, he is happy with the concept’s atmosphere which is still beautiful with lots of trees and cool. “It’s a cool place,” he said.
(nor/iws)
