TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - If you ever wondered what food the ancient kings of Mataram dynasty had during their reign from the 8th-10th century, you should visit the Sojiwan Buddhist Temple Complex in Kebondalem Kidul Village, Klaten Regency, Central Java.

The village's, located not far from the famous Prambanan Temple, received training from the Central Java Institute for Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BPCB). To be exact, five of the villages' homemakers were trained to recreate several Ancient Javanese meals, which were compiled from interpretations of the reliefs in Prambanan and Borobudur Temples.

The homemakers were taught to make three types of meals and three types of drinks. The meals are Hadangan Harang and Hadangan Madura, each using buffalo meat as a main ingredient, and Dundu Puyengan, an eel dish.

The drinks are the sugar-cane based Nalaka Rasa, a drink made of jasmine flower Jati Wangi, and Kinca—made from tamarind.

The ingredients and recipes were taken from the Rukam Inscription, found in 1975 in Temanggung. The inscription, which dated back to 907 AD, also mentioned several menus that only kings are allowed to have.

These menus are available for public during the Ancient Mataram Kings Culinary Festival that opened on February 21.

DINDA LEO LISTY (YOGYAKARTA)