Two important utensils known in the Dutch Indonesian community. The words are very similar to each other. It is important to know the difference.
The other day I heard a person confuse the two words, this to the amusement of the group of friends and family sitting together around the kitchen table. The ‘botol tjebok’ has to do with personal hygiene and will often be found in the restroom of older generation Dutch-Indonesian (Indo) people. The forerunner of the bidet or in the absence thereof a water-filled bottle. It requires quite some skill to use it.
The ‘tjobek’ is a stone mortar which together with the ‘oelekan’ (pestle) is used for the grinding and stamping of herbs and spices. The ingredients are now often grounded in a food processor.
Unless you want to grind the herbs in the toilet, the ‘tjobek’ belongs in your kitchen. The ‘tjobek & oelekan’ can be found at your local Oriental or kitchen supplies store. If this article inspired you to use a ‘botol tjebok,’ then use a ‘liter’ bottle – plastic or glass, fill it with water and place it next to the toilet bowl. Ready to Splish Splash!
Twee belangrijke gebruiksvoorwerpen die bekend zijn in de Nederlands-Indische gemeenschap. De woorden lijken erg veel op elkaar. Wel belangrijk om het verschil te weten.Laatst nog verwarde iemand de twee woorden tot grote hilariteit van de groep die gezellig met elkaar in de keuken zat. De ‘botol tjebok’ heeft met persoonlijke hygiene te maken en vindt je vaak nog terug op het toilet van de oudere generatie Indische mensen. De voorloper van het bidet of bij afwezigheid daarvan een met water gevulde fles. Het vereist nogal een bepaalde handigheid om deze goed te gebruiken.
De Tjobek is een stenen vijzel die tezamen met de oelekan (stamper) wordt gebruikt voor het fijnwrijven en stampen van kruiden en specerijen. De keukenmachine wordt nu vaak als elektrische vervanger gebruikt. Tenzij je de kruiden in de toilet wilt fijnstampen, behoort de Tjobek gewoon in de keuken thuis.
Love this site Love the Keasberrys
By rodney swearingen on August 25, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Hi, I’m Bill. This is my first visit on you blog, and this is where I end up? Awkward place to make your acquaintance! Back in ‘sGravenhage, you know, that “genteel” city, we named that Boteille de Tjebo. When I was referred to your blog, I was skeptic at first, because another “Cooking with Keasberry” Blog seemed to have been “under construction ” for years. But I am impressed now. I found it interresting, well presented, and not one sided, (witness the above article). I congratulate you and wish you continued success.
By Bill Keasberry on January 12, 2013 at 4:39 am
Where can you find a tjebok you ask?? Why on my web site of course! A lifelong project for me, and can be found on the site obbproducts.com. I sell only in the US at this time, but hoping to get retail distribution this year. Any interst, information or contact info for distribution is appreciated. thanks for looking. PR