"LUMPIA" CHINESE CUISINE WITH INDONESIAN TASTE

Lumpia. Semarang ‘s signature dish, has become very famous over the years. So famous, in fact. That a parody music group, Project Pop, used it in a song title : Lumpia vs Bakpia. Its’s like rollade, with bamboo sprouts, eggs, and chicken or shrimp. 

The flavor of Lumpia is a blend between Chinese and Indonesian. Yes, lumpia was first introduced by a Chinese man who married an Indonesian woman. The word “lumpia” originated in China, referring to a Hokkien word “lun-pia” which is another name for popiah (a lumpia-like dish, but larger). The recipes for fried lumpia and wet lumpia were brought by a Chinese immigrant to Southeast Asia and it became famous as it reached Indonesia and the Philippines.

In Indonesia, lumpia became a trademark for Semarang. History shows that this Semarang lumpia was created and pioneered by Chinese Javanese couple about a century ago. Before they were married. They had both been selling lumpia from their respective regions. A young Chinese man named Choa Taiyu from Fuking served Hokkien lumpias, while Mbok Warsih, a native Indonesian, offered a Semarang-style concoction. This Hokkien and Semarang blend has now become the pride the Semarang people and ahas been passed down through four generations.

In Semarang nowadays, lumpia comes in five different flavor, or “genres”. The first comes from Gang Lombok (Siems Swie Kiem), the second from Pemuda Street (the deceased Siem Swie Hie), and the third from Mataram Street (the deceased Siem Hwa Nio). These three “genres” came from one family of Siem Gwan sing-Tjoa Po Nio, the son in law and only daughter of the inventory of Semarang Lumpia. Tjoa Thay Yoe Wasih. The fourth “genre” came from a few former employees of Pemuda Street. The fifth “genre” came simply from people with a culinary hobbies that crafted new lumpia recipes by combining and expanding on pre-existing ones.

If you’re in the area, try the Gang Lombok Lumpia. Located at Gang Lombok Street, Semarang, Phone 024-3555722.

please check this awesome video from project pop. Lumpia vs Bakpia :)