WHY IS BALINESE CUISINE EXQUISITE?

Since a long time, Bali is famous for the quality of its cuisine. It is easy to check when you are visiting the island where beautifully decorated or more modest warungs (restaurants ) invite you to taste the delicious local specialties such as Babi Guling (Roasted pork), Bebek Betutu (Stuffed duck), Nasi Campur (Mixed fried rice) and the famous Rijsttafel (Combination of the most popular Balinese dishes). But it is also true in the daily life of Balinese families. On the picture, some kids of Dajuma staff are sharing a lunch composed of black beans soup, tumbali (meat cooked in banana leaf), rice crackers and tofu.
There are two main reasons why the Balinese cuisine is so well appreciated: Because of its location in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago, the island has been influenced through the centuries by many different cultures, each of them having brought its contribution to the cuisine. The second reason is definitively linked to the infinite variety of spices we can find in the island. Just a few of them are shown on the picture: torch ginger, star aniss, cardamon, white pepper, white ginger, cinamon, turmeric, nutmeg. Selamat makan! (Enjoy your meal!)