JAMU NYONYA MENEER MUSEUM - The First Jamu Museum in Indonesia

JAMU NYONYA MENEER MUSEUM

Address: Jl. Raya Kaligawe km 4 Semarang, IndonesiaPhone: (024) 582 529
GPS Coordinate: S6°57'26.2" E110°27'15.3" (view map)

Jamu (herbal medicine) Nyonya Meneer Museum is the first jamu museum in Indonesia. You are not only able to see the private collection of Nyonya Meneer, but you are also able to learn the history of jamu in the land of Nusantara (archipelago).

JAMU NYONYA MENEER MUSEUM
The First Jamu Museum in Indonesia

Jamu (herbal medicine) is one of cultural heritage of the past that must be maintained to the present. Although it is unknown exactly to start making and drinking jamu, the way to maintain health and beauty care with this traditional herb, surely, has been running since hundreds of years ago. It can be proven by the discovery of Madhawapura inscriptions written in the days of Majapahit Kingdom. In Madhawapura inscriptions, it was mentioned that jamu maker had been known as acariki. After the end of Majapahit heyday was over, the tradition of making and drinking jamu was continuing in the Islamic Mataram Kingdom. Jamu even became the exclusive consumption of palace residents.

In its development, jamu drinking tradition was not only done by palace residents, but also was introduced to the public. Jamu recipes were passed down for generations and became heirlooms of Javanese community in particular. Supported by Indonesian fertile soil condition and the second country in the world after Brazil in terms of richness of medicinal plants, jamu continued to evolve to create a variety of new concoction.

One figure who helped preserving the existence of jamu in Indonesia is Nyonya Meneer. Began from the illness that had never been cured, that plagued her husband, Nyonya Meneer tried concocting a variety of spices and medicinal plants into jamu. Surprisingly, jamu that was formulated based on her little knowledge was able to heal her husband illness. From the incident, Nyonya Meneer began to deepen her knowledge of the variety of medicinal plants and how to mix them by herself. She, then, founded a jamu company named Jamu Cap Potret Nyonya Meneer.

In order to keep Nusantara’s cultural heritage that is great and has high value from the extinction and being crushed by the modernization, based on the idea from Ibu Tien Suharto, who was then the first lady, Jamu Nyonya Meneer Museum was built on 18th of January 1984. High curiosity and desire to seek information about the history of jamu in the land of Nusantara has pushed YogYes to visity the museum located on Jalan Raya Kaligawe. The first jamu museum in Indonesia blends with its factory building which is located on the second floor. No tickets that needed to be paid for entering Jamu Nyonya Meneer Museum, all we have to do was reporting to the reception. A friendly guide accompanied YogYes go around the museum.

Up to the museum steps, YogYes was welcomed by a series of photos that parsed the history of PT Jamu Nyonya Meneer establishment. The next collection was private belongings of Nyonya Meneer such as mortar and pestle to pound her first jamu she made, botekan (box with drawer for keeping recipes), dacin (traditional scale), kebaya encim (traditional Chinese Javanese outfit), ceramic, and jewelry. There were also dioramas of jamu making process and variety of simplicia (dried plant that is ready to be formulated into jamu). Besides looking at the collection of Jamu Nyonya Meneer Museum, YogYes was also invited to see the traditional process of jamu making. A woman wearing special outfit was grinding concoction on a rubbing stone, while the other woman was creating jamu concoction into pilis.

Jamu produced in Indonesia is apparently not only marketed in Nusantara area, but also has been extended to Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Arabic. Therefore, many of foreign visitors are interested in visiting Jamu Nyonya Meneer Museum. In a year, there is not less than 4 cruise ships docked at the port of Tanjung Mas bring their groups visiting Jamu Nyonya Meneer Museum. While enjoying a glass of warm sherbet served by a guide, YogYES mind suddenly filled with a big question. If foreign people are keen to see and learn about the greatness of the culture of Nusantara, why do Indonesian sometimes underestimate and forget about it? Until YogYES left the museum, the question that had come to mind was not able to find its answer.

Opening hours:
Monday - Friday, at 10:00 - 15:30 WIB

Visits with a number of more than 25 people please contact the manager of the museum one week before the date of the visit.