Best Souvenirs from Indonesia: 24 Unique Must-Buy in Jakarta & Java

Classic Indonesian Souvenirs

Especially for those who have traveled between Indonesia and your home town several or dozens of times…

Tempeh Chips / Happy Tempe

As a unique Indonesian food, tempeh might be a good candidate, don’t you think?

Tempeh chips are a snack made from the traditional Indonesian ingredient, tempeh. Tempeh is a food made by fermenting soybeans, and this fermentation creates a wealth of nutrients. Tempeh chips are a crispy snack made by thinly slicing and frying tempeh.

The characteristics of tempeh chips are their flavor and nutritional value. Tempeh itself has a rich and flavorful taste, which is well-preserved in the chips. The savory and rich flavor of tempeh has an unforgettable charm.

Tempeh chips are also high in nutrients, especially protein and dietary fiber. Tempeh itself is a soy-based protein source, and fermentation improves its digestibility. Therefore, it also has the benefit of being a healthy snack.

Furthermore, tempeh chips are popular among health-conscious people, including those who prefer organic or vegan options. Tempeh is a naturally fermented food and does not contain artificial additives or preservatives. Therefore, another one of its charms is that it can be eaten with peace of mind.

I myself find that bringing a set of tempeh chips along with Indonesian wine or arak as a souvenir, especially for home parties with family and friends, makes for a great souvenir set that livens up the occasion.

Instant Coffee / Kapal Api’s Easy Drip Series

Kapal Api is one of the most famous instant coffee brands in Indonesia.

They offer a lineup of famous Indonesian coffees such as Toraja, Mandheling, Luwak, and Manggarai coffee.

The contents are individually packaged, so it’s a great item to open the box and give out as small souvenirs.

＼ Indonesia’s No.1 Coffee Brand!! ／

Hair Oil / ellips

Ellips is a very popular hair care brand in Indonesia. It is known for its wide variety of hair oil products and supports women in achieving beautiful hair. It helps to restore the hair’s natural beauty.

The characteristics of Ellips are its high-quality ingredients and effective hair care benefits. Each product contains carefully selected Indonesian natural ingredients and nutrients, focusing on providing moisture and nutrition to the hair.

The particularly famous hair oils provide various benefits such as hair protection and repair, and improved manageability and shine.

Furthermore, Ellips hair oil is easy to use; you can feel the effects just by applying it to your hair. Even a small amount penetrates the hair well, achieving a smooth finish. It also has a rich fragrance, providing a relaxing and soothing experience with each use.

The fragrance is also wonderful, offering a relaxing scent after a bath.

Ellips has a product lineup that addresses various hair concerns. You can choose a product tailored to your individual hair concerns, such as dry hair, frizz, split ends, and damage from UV rays. You can also choose according to your hair type.

As a souvenir, the 6-piece hair oil can be bought for about IDR 12,000 – 14,000, making it a very welcome gift for a group of women.

Alternatively, for a close friend or family member, I also recommend giving them the 30-piece bottle.

Tolak Angin

Tolak Angin is a standard jamu (herbal medicine for colds) that has been sold since 1930.

It contains ginger, mint leaves, fennel, ules wood, clove leaves, and honey.
As far as I know, it is a staple in every Indonesian household.

The contents are individually packaged, so it’s a great item to give out as small souvenirs.

Cashew Nuts / East Bali Cashews/yavabali

This brand was once adopted as an in-flight snack by JAL, so it’s very delicious and the perfect size for a snack.

Coffee Candy / Kopiko

A popular coffee candy brand originating from Indonesia.

As the name suggests, KOPIKO is a product that condenses the authentic taste of coffee into a candy. Its characteristic taste is a rich and deep coffee flavor. While it has a strong coffee bitterness and depth, it also has a perfect amount of sweetness.

The individually wrapped candies are easy to give out as small, reasonably priced souvenirs.
It’s a sure-fire item to buy when going from Indonesia to Japan.

Balinese Wine / Plaga

A wine from Bali with a wide variety of types.

Especially recommended is this red wine called “Cabernet Merlot.”
Look for the orange label.

A 750ml bottle sells for about IDR 165K.

↓↓↓You can buy it online from the official Tokopedia and official websites.↓↓↓

Balinese Wine / Sababay

A stylishly packaged wine from Bali.

Sababay is a company that started with the dream of advancing Indonesia’s agricultural potential. The name Sababay comes from the fact that the winery is located along the beautiful “Saba” Bay (Teluk Saba) in Gianyar, Bali.

Bringing this along with other snacks and appetizers as a souvenir to a home party will liven up the conversation about Indonesia.

Balinese Wine / Hatten wine

Hatten Wines has produced wines that have won numerous awards among Balinese wines.

Bringing this wine along with tempeh chips and cashew nuts to a gathering with family and friends will liven up the party, and it’s also a perfect gift for a home party!

National Instant Noodles / indomie

As the brand name suggests, isn’t this one of Indonesia’s representative national foods?

One packet is only about 30 yen, so although it takes up space, it’s also a great souvenir for giving out to a lot of people!

However, personally, I think Indomie is more for Japanese friends who have some connection to Indonesia.
If you give it to people who don’t know it, they might not appreciate it and it might not get eaten…

In my case, I think the best way is to cook and serve it at the end of a drinking party.
※Although it’s not really “cooking”…

Chocolate / Monggo

“Monggo” is a brand of chocolate often seen in Indonesia, but it’s a chocolate brand from Yogyakarta, with its factory located in Jogja.

This “Monggo” chocolate is a high-quality, slightly premium chocolate made with 100% cocoa butter.
Particularly recommended is the chocolate in the shape of a Borobudur stupa, as shown in the photo below, which is a souvenir that can be enjoyed for both its appearance and taste.

This is recommended for friends who are hesitant about trying unusual foods, or for those who want to give a “safe bet” souvenir.

Since it’s a high-quality chocolate, it’s a bit pricey…
But they also have smaller-sized chocolate bars, so if you’re not sure what to buy as a souvenir at first, buying a bunch of these chocolates is a good option.

＼ Official Tokopedia Shop ／

Unique Indonesian Souvenirs

Jamu / acaraki

This is jamu from the brand “acaraki,” which also has restaurants in Jakarta.

It’s a powdered type that you just dissolve in hot water, making it a convenient souvenir to bring back home.
The stylish packaging is also a plus. They have multiple sizes, and there are also smaller sizes and tea bag types for people who have never introduced jamu before, making it a perfect souvenir!

Jamu / Suwe Ora Jamu

This is jamu from a famous cafe in Jakarta that mainly deals with jamu, conveying the jamu culture.
This shop is popular even with Japanese people, so much so that they hold workshops for Japanese people.

If you’re unsure, I recommend this set of 8 types of jamu.

The owner of this shop has also published a book in Japanese called “The Story of Jamu.”

It’s a great way to learn more deeply about jamu culture, so I recommend it along with the souvenir.

Fruit Jam / saja jam

This is a jam brand from Yogyakarta.
Speaking of Indonesia, isn’t one of its charms the abundance of fruit?

Jam lasts a long time, so you can share the deliciousness of tropical fruits with your friends.

By the way, I sometimes make easy cocktails using the jam, like this.

＼ Check out the official Tokopedia store! ／

Fruit Jam / East Java & co

This is a recommended passion fruit and pineapple jam.
The stylish packaging is also a big plus.

By the way, the only drawback is that the jam is heavy to pack in your luggage…

＼ Check it out on the official Tokopedia! ／

Tea / TEMA

This is a stylish tea brand “TEMA” produced in Bogor.

The tea contains a combination of many ingredients such as fruits and flowers, making it a very fragrant tea.
The stylish packaging is also a great plus!

＼ TEMA’s Official Tokopedia Shop ／

Tea / East Java & co

Isn’t tea the most consumed beverage in Indonesia?

This organic tea series from East Java & co is highly recommended, with its stylish packaging that still retains an Indonesian feel.

＼ Check it out on the official Tokopedia shop! ／

Batik / ROU

When you think of Indonesia, you can’t forget batik!
From small items using batik to custom-made batik, this shop with a Japanese owner has a wide selection of batik.

Socks & Shirts with Portraits / HAPPIFY

This is quite a unique item…
It’s a service where you can create original socks and shirts by combining illustrations of Indonesian food with your own photos.
The photo above is of original socks I gave as a gift to a friend who was returning to their home country.

A recommended point is that they have a lineup of cute Indonesian illustrations like mangkok ayam, sate, and martabak.

You can freely create your own design on their online store, so please give it a try.

＼ Create your original design ／

Leather Shoes / Fortuna Shoes (Jalan Sriwijaya)

These are Indonesian-made leather shoes that are sold under the brand name “Jalan Sriwijaya” in Japan.
In Indonesia, they are sold under the brand name “Fortuna Shoes.”

These leather shoes are of quite high quality, and I am very satisfied with the pair I bought for myself.

The soles are just stunning, aren’t they?
How about them as a gift for a dear friend?

＼ Fortuna Shoes’ Official Tokopedia Store ／

Aroma Oil / Teramu

Indonesia is also very famous for its abundance of plants.
How about some aroma goods from the Indonesian brand “Teramu” as a souvenir from such a country?

＼ Teramu’s Official Tokopedia Store ／

Hot Chocolate / Dillcogroup

Indonesia is the world’s third-largest producer of cocoa, and is also famous as a chocolate-producing country.
How about some Indonesian chocolate as a souvenir?

＼ Dillco Chocolate’s Official Tokopedia Store ／

Coffee Beans / VOTRRO COFFEE

This is the perfect item to give to a friend or family member who is a true coffee lover!

＼ Go to the official Tokopedia site product page! ／

Jenggala Keramik / Pottery

Jenggala Keramik is a pottery brand founded in Bali in 1976. It is characterized by its unique style that fuses traditional Balinese techniques with Western design. The durability born from high-temperature firing and the beautiful colors of the glaze have captivated fans worldwide. Also, from its inception, the company has been environmentally conscious, and its sustainable initiatives, such as recycling waste materials, have also attracted attention.

The Classic Frangipani Square Plate

Finally

Thank you for reading to the end.
I myself have often struggled with what to bring back as souvenirs on my temporary returns to Japan, so I’ve listed the things that have been relatively well-received as souvenirs in the past.

＼ Souvenirs from Bali are here! ／

I hope you find it helpful.

＼ Souvenirs from Yogyakarta are here! ／