Growing up in Indonesia, I thought I was used to having summer all year round. However, after moving to Japan, I realized that summer here feels much more intense than what I was familiar with. Still, like every season, Japanese summer has its own charm—with hanabi, yukata, and slices of juicy watermelon.

During the hot months, I always crave something cold and refreshing. In Indonesia, we often enjoy icy treats like es campur, es cendol, or es rujak. Es campur is a colorful dessert made with a mix of tropical fruits, jelly, sweetened condensed milk, and shaved ice. Es cendol, on the other hand, features green pandan-flavored rice flour jelly served with coconut milk and palm sugar syrup over ice. These desserts are quite similar in spirit to Japan’s kakigōri or mizuyōkan—they’re sweet, chilled, and perfect for cooling down.

These traditional sweets help us beat the heat and enjoy a cooler, more refreshing and soothing day.

Es Campur

Es Rujak