DEPOK, KOMPAS.com – Various typical Chinese foods cannot be separated from the philosophy. Including the light of the moon or sweet martabak.
Sweet martabak is very popular in Indonesia, but did you know that this food actually comes from China?
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“We always say (the moonlight cake) is a sweet martabak. When going to China, I just found out it turns out (sweet martabak) originally from China,” said Chinese Peranakan Batik researcher, Notty J. Mahdi at the Cap Go Meh 2025 festival in Faculty of ILMBU Cultural Knowledge (FIB) University of Indonesia (UI), Wednesday (12/2/2025).
Like Mandarin, Onde-onde, and Ronde (Tangyuan), sweet martabak is also believed to have good meaning because of its round shape.
Also read: 8 Types of Chinese Typical Foods and the uniqueness of the taste
“The shape of the sweet sweet martabak symbolizes the moon. This sweet martabak is only sold during the full moon (Full Moon), “explained Notty.
The full month period is usually celebrated with a moon cake festival (Mooncake). This warning falls on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar.
Sweet Martabak Illustration
In addition to moon cakes made with lotus seed paste filling, Chinese people also usually enjoy sweet martabak.
Notty said, the Chinese immediately imagined a beautiful woman when he saw the shape of a round moon.
“Usually, those who sell sweet martabak round are always women, beautiful. So (his efforts) are the most crowded,” said Notty.
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During the full moon period, market conditions in China will be crowded by sweet martabak traders and their customers.
“So, they, the women, like to eat food (sweet martabak). He said, it can make them more beautiful,” concluded Notty.
When the full month period is up, the sweet martabak sword stop selling and returning next year.
Also Read: 12 Types of Chinese Noodles, Which Have You Try?
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