The Ultimate Guide to Indonesian Anggur Merah (Amer)

Who doesn’t like a cup of refreshing sweet drink? In Indonesia, one of the most legendary alcoholic beverages is Anggur Merah, more commonly known as ‘Amer’. From its long history to its distinctive taste, Anggur Merah has become a favorite choice at various events.

Although Anggur Merah has been in Indonesia for years, some people forget that Anggur Merah is not only delicious when consumed traditionally, but it can also be an exciting ingredient for cocktails. Well, here we thoroughly uncover all the facts about red wine and provide 5 secret recipes for making drinks from red wine! Discover the history of local Indonesian red wine brands as well!

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What is Anggur Merah?

Anggur Merah, more commonly referred to as Amer, is one of the popular alcoholic beverages in Indonesia made from kolesom grapes. This drink was originally made as a traditional herbal medicine with various health benefits, but over time it has evolved into a popular drink for hanging out. This drink is usually served as a complement when gathering with friends and old relatives.

History of Anggur Merah in Indonesia

The history of red wine or kolesom wine in Indonesia cannot be separated from the legendary brand Cap Orang Tua. It all started with Chandra Djojonegoro and his brother who began selling herbal wine in Semarang in 1948. Two years later, they began collaborating with the Lum family, NV Handel Maatchappij May Lian & Co., to build the Orang Tua brand. From there, Orang Tua Company diversified, and their sour products soared to legendary levels as many people spread the enjoyment of their products.

Anggur Merah vs Red Wine: What’s the Difference?

Anggur merah, when translated directly, can mean red wine. But, it should be noted that what we are discussing here is a type of wine with roots in traditional beverages in the form of jamu. So the taste will be very different from the usual red wine. Red wine will have a stronger grape flavor, not sweet, and actually bitter from the alcohol.

On the other hand, anggur merah is a mixture of the dominant alcohol flavor from the fermentation of kolesom grapes and a hint of herbal notes like traditional herbal medicine. Additionally, there is a quite dominant and thick sweet syrup flavor. Overall, it tends to be sweet and refreshing.

Is Anggur Merah Halal?

Basically, everything with alcoholic content is haram since it has the potential to be intoxicating. However, as a Djamu, which is for medicinal use, it can be categorized as ma’fu, which is to say that it is forgivable. However, in this case, we recommend that you take the consultation with your trusted Ustad/preacher or expert in accordance with your Islamic school of thought!

How much Alcohol is in Anggur Merah or Amer?

The alcohol content in red wine generally ranges from 10-20%. For example, the regular variant of Orang Tua brand Amer contains 14.7% alcohol, while the Amer from Kawa Kawa brand has a higher alcohol content of 19.8%.

Anggur Merah Benefits

Some research states that having a habit of drinking red wine can increase good cholesterol levels and insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing the likelihood of diabetes, stroke, heart attacks, and the chance of premature death. It should be noted that these benefits are only found in those who drink wine in moderation because excessive consumption can lead to premature death.

Those who are at risk of developing cancer should also avoid consuming alcohol. One of them is smokers. So, consume it in moderation, which means one drink for women and two drinks for men. One drink means 12 ounces of beer with 5 percent alcohol content, 5 ounces of wine with 12 percent alcohol content, and 1 ounce of liquor with 40 percent alcohol content. In short, don’t overdrink and stay healthy!

Popular Anggur Merah Brands

Anggur Merah Orang Tua

This brand dominates the taste of bitter drink enthusiasts and is the easiest to find in the market. Sometimes people use the term “chatting/hanging out with orang tua/the elders” when drinking this particular brand of red wine. The content of Orang Tua red wine creates a balanced sweet, syrupy, and alcoholic taste, making it a distinctive characteristic that is hard to match by other brands.

Amer Orang Tua itself consists of 2 variants, namely the regular variant with a purple label like the one in the picture above and the gold variant with a gold label and a higher alcohol content.

Anggur Merah Colombus

This one has lower concentration of overall contents and an alcoholic aftertaste that relatively sticks more than other brands. You won’t taste the powdery taste from the herbs but there is still traces of the Djamu taste even though the alcohol taste dominates. Because of its low concentration of contents, it does not easily make people nauseated when drinking in relatively big portion.

Anggur Merah Kawa Kawa

With deep colors indicating its content concentration, the initial taste will be delightful, but you need to watch out because the alcoholic aftertaste is quite accentuated and is a bit sour. The Djamu taste does not really dominate. The powdery taste will not show up as much, so it’s quite smooth when you try it.

Anggur Merah Macdonald

There is powdery taste in this one, and it’s a bit more textured. However, it’s sweeter than the Orang Tua brand. It won’t be as delightful to be consumed in large quantities since it can make you a bit nauseated faster. The alcoholic content is not too pronounced, and it leans a bit more on grape syrup. Perfect for those preferring sweet alcohol.

Anggur Merah Javan

The smell of alcohol is a bit stronger than other brands. The taste is not too distinct or delightful, but the taste of alcohol trumps the wine taste. The sweetness is less than other brands. Some might even find that the wine taste is almost non-existent.

Price of Anggur Merah or Amer

The price of red wine can vary. Amer from the Orang Tua brand costs under Rp 100,000.00. More specifically, the regular 325mL variant costs Rp35,000, while you can buy the 620mL size for Rp65,000. Red wine from other brands can reach hundreds of thousands of rupiah.

Where Can You Buy Anggur Merah?

Traditional

To buy anggur merah conventionally, you can visit any traditional herbal medicine stalls and kiosks. The price is definitely cheaper compared to online stores or more modern shops.

Online

You can purchase anggur merah on e-commerce platforms such as Tokopedia, Blibli, and Shopee. Additionally, you can find various alcoholic beverage stores on social media, especially Instagram.

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5 Drinks Recipes with Anggur Merah or Amer

1. The Tip of The Iceberg

Many people say the Tip of the Iceberg is a classic but the most enjoyable way to drink Red Wine. You just need to mix red wine and ice cubes. The ice cubes will make your red wine richer in flavor. It even tastes like expensive wine at a restaurant. The cold sensation is perfect for you who want to feel fresh after working hard.

Here’s another secret tip for this recipe! Take a shaker and pour The Tip of The Iceberg into it, then shake until foam forms, and enjoy the taste!

2. Rocket Queen

Rocket Queen is another way to give your Red Wine a unique taste, not too strong, and not too sweet. This recipe is suitable for those who want to enjoy a much more neutral flavor, without an excessive wine taste.

What you need is just a 3:1 ratio, which is three glasses of red wine and one glass of root beer. However, you can adjust the recipe as you like. The more root beer you add, the stronger the flavor. Finally, add ice cubes to perfect the taste!

3. Beer Me Up

Beer me up is one of the most common cocktails made by people in Indonesia. This cocktail is very similar to The Rocket Queen. The only difference is that you mix Red Wine with beer, not root beer, and use a 2:1 ratio, two glasses of Red Wine and one glass of beer.

You might be wondering what type of beer goes well with Red Wine because there are so many types of beer. You should try mixing it with all kinds of beer. Here are some flavors you will get:

• If you’re a beginner or you’re looking for a soft, sweet, and a variety of taste, you should definitely mix Anggur Merah with a type of ale beer (white beer, wheat beer, etc.) or malt beer, it makes Anggur Merah more sweet with floral and caramel notes in the beers and as it reduces the thickness of Anggur Merah. If you’re looking for a much softer and sweeter taste, try using the measure of 1:1. 
• If you are looking for a much stronger, exotic, and thicker taste, you should definitely go for the black beer or stout beer. Its bitterness will add the exoticness in Anggur Merah, making it the dominant taste of this drink.
• If you’re looking for something strong but don’t want to lose the taste of Anggur Merah, then the lager beer is the one for you. It is, at some point, much stronger than the black beer, so, in case you don’t want to throw up, you should use the measure of 3:1, three glasses of Anggur Merah and a glass of lager beer.

Here are some extra tips! Add ice cubes and also some slices of lemon or lychee for variation in taste!

4. Sangria 

Who doesn’t know the classic Sangria from Spain? It’s a fresh wine cocktail that is perfect for a party! It’s exotic, refreshing and classic taste will blow people away especially when  using Anggur Merah.

Here’s what you’ll need :

• A bottle of Anggur Merah
• 1-2 glasses of fresh fruits that have been chopped into cube shapes (orange, lemon, apple, etc.)
• 2 glasses of soda (Sprite is the best recommendation)
• ½ glass of liquor, any type (Not obligated) 

First, mix the fruits, liquor, and red wine together. Then, wrap it in plastic and let it sit in the refrigerator for 8 hours to ensure the liquor and red wine are absorbed by the fruits. After that, add soda and voila! Your sangria is ready! Don’t forget to add ice cubes as the finishing touch.

5. Pomegranate Mulled Wine

Would you like a more relaxing type of drink from Anggur Merah? Then pomegranate mulled wine is the cocktail for you. 

Here’s what you’ll need :

• A glass of pomegranate juice
• A bottle of Anggur Merah
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 5 whole cloves
• 5 star anise
• 1 glass of pomegranate seeds
• Lemon slices or orange slices (up to you)
• ⅓ glass of honey

Over a medium heated pot, brew the pomegranate juice, Anggur Merah, and honey together. Make sure there aren’t any bubbles or else the alcohol will steam up. When it’s warm enough, add cinnamon sticks, star anise and some pomegranate seeds. Heat it for 30-60 minutes on low heat. Don’t forget to garnish your drink with lemon or oranges. You’re finished! Drink it on a cold day or night, the warmth from the cloves and served warm will make you never want to leave the bed! 

Want to try one of these recipes? Visit the nearest store or buy your favorite Red Wine online after work. Share this article with your friends and discover new ways to enjoy anggur merah!

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