Rice has always been central to Indonesian cooking, but the traditions surrounding it are just as interesting.
Before modern storage containers became common, rice was often kept in woven bamboo baskets, wooden bins, or earthen jars. Alongside it, many households added pandan leaves for their fragrance, while others included dried garlic as part of their own way of caring for stored rice.
There was never a single method. Every family had its own routine, shaped by local customs and everyday experience.
That's what makes these traditions special—they belong to the people who continue them.
Why Pandan?
Pandan has long been one of Southeast Asia's most familiar ingredients. Its sweet, grassy aroma is instantly recognisable, and it's no coincidence that it pairs so naturally with rice. The same aromatic compound found in pandan also occurs in fragrant rice varieties like jasmine rice, giving both their distinctive scent.
Whether it was added while cooking or placed inside the rice container, pandan became part of what many people associate with the smell of home.
A Small Tradition Revisited
That everyday habit became the starting point for our Rice Aromatics Booster.
Rather than creating something entirely new, we wanted to revisit a familiar tradition in a way that fits today's kitchens. Each sachet contains dried pandan leaves and dried garlic, making it easy to continue a practice that many Indonesian households have known for generations.
Rice has always been more than an ingredient. It's part of our history, our kitchens, and the routines that quietly connect one generation to the next.