Aceh: The Pepper and Cardamom Province

Aceh (Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam) at the northern tip of Sumatra is the most Islamic province in Indonesia — the only one applying elements of sharia law — and its food culture reflects centuries of direct trade connection with the Arab world, Yemen, India, and the Hadhrami diaspora. The spice profile of Acehnese cuisine is distinctly different from any other Indonesian regional tradition: heavier cardamom, more cumin, more fennel seed, the use of ghee in some preparations, and a heat level that reflects Aceh's historical role as the primary pepper-producing region of the spice trade (black pepper — *Piper nigrum* — was Aceh's most valuable export commodity for 400 years).

Masakan Aceh — The Arabian Sea at Indonesia's Tip

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