What fresh spices to bring back from Bali, Indonesia

[Stew8]

Providing the volcano does not “go live” and close the airport, we’re off to Bali for a couple of weeks for much needed sunshine and R&R.

I’m a newbie and this hobby is all consuming. I’m making everything and anything; Odin’s gin tomorrow with a twist, rum at the weekend and oaking plum brandy for a party tomorrow night. While I’m writing, I’m finishing off a red peppercorn Variation to Odins gin, which I (and others) can highly recommend. add about 2 teaspoons or so of red pepper corns and re-distill

So, what spices can you recommend I bring back to enhance flavours, I’m looking for the obscure, local and unusual?
I’ll print a list of the usual botanicals for gin.

A google search reavealed marigold petals....could be interesting

Thanks again for all the help, recipes, humour and advice.

[still_stirrin]

Kinda' "off the wall" question. I've never been to Bali, so I have no idea what spices they naturally have there. Oh...I have heard of kava as a native plant there. But it is more like a "tea" herb.

Good luck. And enjoy the sunshine. Happy travels.
ss

[Twisted Brick]

Have a swell time, but be safe and beware of imbibing local spirits!

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[Kareltje]

Apart from the sound advice to be careful about drinking, the phrase:
In 2009 a batch of the local spirit arak was cut with methanol and killed 25 people.
is important. The arak was cut with methanol, it did not contain methanol on its own account.

But this is a problem for another thread.

[DAD300]

Don't spend a lot of money on herbs to bring back until you verify Bali and U.S. Customs/Agriculture will allow it.

Very few countries will allow you to claim and export/import agricultural stuff! I know you can't bring flowers or fruit back to the U.S.

Herbs...IDK!

[NZChris]

The way I bring exotic ingredients back to NZ is by taking high proof liquor with me as my duty free allowance, steeping botanicals in the liquor, then bringing it back as my duty free allowance.

As for what to bring back from Bali, I doubt anyone will give you a handout. I often have friends coming back from there but I have no idea what I would ask them for.
For gin, Surinam Cherry? I'm not sure if they grow it there, or what the local name is.
Vanilla?

[Stew8]

Thanks for the points raised and I’m not going to drink the local hooch and uk customs are as tough as the us.....so nothing dodgy in my bags..we’ve been serveral times and made local friends: I’m going to ask if I can visit a local still. If I do, I’ll share the photos.

Let’s hope the volcano plays ball

[Stew8]

At the traditional market We visited this morning. No spices and I found palm sugar. Not sure what I make with it....

Found several stalls selling Arak in old plastic drinking bottles. There was a choice of red Or white.
Given the advice I’ve had and stuff I’ve read about, I gave it a miss

[aircarbonarc]

I've had no trouble bringing prepackaged food products back to Canada.

[Wino2Distill]

Pepper for sure. Star anis? Bergamote peel? Follow your nose in the market

[cede]

I've had no trouble bringing prepackaged food products back to Canada.

We can not bring some fresh fruits when crossing to US even if they are from Florida USA

[rubber duck]

Don't spend a lot of money on herbs to bring back until you verify Bali and U.S. Customs/Agriculture will allow it.

Very few countries will allow you to claim and export/import agricultural stuff! I know you can't bring flowers or fruit back to the U.S.

Herbs...IDK!

Ive got genipie. i didnt even have to stuff it up my errrr.

[aircarbonarc]

I've had no trouble bringing prepackaged food products back to Canada.

We can not bring some fresh fruits when crossing to US even if they are from Florida USA

They check us for apples when we cross the boarder

[Stew8]

Went to Ubud and visited to market. After avoiding the tourist stalls, the majority of the food market was closed but an elderly lady sold me some Coriander, black pepper, fat cardamon seeds and dried lemon grass. the vanilla pods were the most expensive.
Total was IDR 350k about $26 or £20...I could have bargained harder but the local economy is struggling with the volcano impacting on tourist numbers

I should have bought cinnamon sticks....I’ve still got time though.

0EDA34AD-02C8-4E16-AF34-68055EA11FAA.jpeg (40.27 KiB) Viewed 2294 times

[Kareltje]

Quite a lot of vanilla sticks!

I have a friend living on Bali now. Maybe I will ask him to get some spices to make gin, when he is coming back.