The largest volcanic lake in the world, Lake Toba is home to one of Indonesia’s earliest ethnic tribes – the Bataks. Formed by an explosion of a supervolcano 75,000 years ago, the crater island of Samosir is considered sacred for them.
It’s also a sacred land for andaliman peppers and the only place in the world where you can find this Sichuan pepper-like spice. It’s a fundamental ingredient for Batak cuisine, making every dish filled with a tingly edge.
Lake Toba is a 2-hour flight away from Jakarta via North Sumatra’s Silangit International Airport, with a 3-hour drive to Samosir Island. Once you get there, get a dose of Lake Toba’s Best Ever Eats with this curated list of recommendations by AFN’s favorite foodies.
Yuda Bustara, Chef & Culinary Diplomat
Recommendation: Naniura