Couple years ago, I heard about colenak. I do not have any idea what kind of food it is. Turns out it is an acronym: colenak means dicocol enak (it was delicious when dipped). It is a traditional food from West Java, especially Bandung.

It made from fermented cassava (tape) which is roasted and dipped into grated coconut and liquid brown sugar. I tasted it for the first time when I was in a train from Bandung. I bought from minimarket at train station.

It wrapped in paper and written ‘Colenak Murdi Putra’ since 1930. Wow, it took so long.

Actually, I like tape. I thought I will like colenak. It is good, but too sweet for me. I like the taste of burnt tape with the sugar and coconut.  

Colenak was famous because it became the dessert on the first KTT Asia Africa on 1955 at Bandung. At that time, staff of KTT bought Colenak Murdi Putra for KTT guests. Therefore, this food is famous as dessert from Bandung, Indonesia.

Murdi Putra was the first person who sold colenak. He sold it at roadside stall at Jl. Ahmad Yani. At first, it called “peuyeum digulaan”. It is Sundanese. “Peuyeum” means tape, “digulaan” means with sugar topping.

When Murdi make it at his stall, the aroma of burning tape wafts in all directions inviting buyers. A customer suggested new name, colenak or dicocol enak. Since, it became more delicious when it was dipped. Murdi accepted the new name. Then, it became colenak until now.

Colenak Murdi Putra nowadays run by third generation. They still hold the first stall at Jl. Ahmad Yani and build some branches. They also supplied to supermarket like Griya, Yogya, and Indomaret. Therefore, they can reach more customer, like me.