Anna; the woman behind Good Jamu

I'm Anna, the woman behind Good Jamu. For me, Good Jamu is more than just a brand - it's part of my identity.

Discover the power of nature

My grandparents were born and raised in Ambon, the capital of the Moluccan Islands. Early in their adult lives they came to the Netherlands, where my father met my mother, who is Dutch. I grew up in the Netherlands, but being half Moluccan I always had a strong desire to return to Indonesia and get to know the place my grandparents once called home. After studying journalism at university, I decided to do that and left for Bali.

During my stay I saw how natural healing processes are the norm in Indonesia, just like during my childhood. My mother would never give me an aspirin from the medicine cabinet when I felt sick. Instead she told me to drink this tea or eat these herbs and wait for my body to react to it. Witnessing how Indonesians use natural remedies on a daily basis to maintain their well-being reminded me how effectively nature can be used to care for the body. This made me very interested in researching how to stay healthy by using nature instead of chemical drugs.

The beginning of Good Jamu

Jamu has always been an important part of my life - even before I was born. When my mother was pregnant with me, she rubbed a jamu paste on her stomach as a method of maintaining her well-being and counteracting cramps. During my childhood, my parents and grandparents gave me jamu to drink to prevent and treat diseases, but the busyness of adult life made me lose track of this ancient tradition.

During my quest to learn more about harnessing the power of nature, I was reacquainted with jamu. I was lucky enough to learn about jamu from an experienced jamu master - a woman who had learned the craft of making jamu from her ancestors and had an in-depth knowledge of its history. Meeting her gave me a real insight into the cultural and nutritional aspects, and I started using jamu every day.

When I returned to the Netherlands, I missed jamu so much that I started making it based on the knowledge I got from the jamu master. I shared the first batch with friends and they were obsessed. They asked for more, and I made more. Then I realized something: people on this side of the world want jamu and it's the way to introduce this dying craft here.

From this moment Good Jamu has come into existence. A company focused on using natural elements to enable the body to reach its full potential.

The importance of well-being

But that's not the only reason why I founded Good Jamu. Jamu is a dying craft. In Indonesia, people no longer have time to make jamu because the preparation process is labor intensive and also not as profitable as it used to be due to the mass production of cheap crops for worldwide consumption. Each island has its own jamu, but as people are no longer interested in making it, many of the spices used to make these special editions are disappearing. I feel it is my duty to keep this ancient tradition alive in the modern world, and I hope I can do that with Good Jamu.

I believe well-being needs to be redefined. Taking care of yourself should be attractive, inspiring and something everyone can enjoy, regardless of their age or where they come from. I want Good Jamu to embody that.

Do you have questions about jamu? We can answer them. With Good Jamu, we want to share the traditional benefits of jamu with the world and promote the importance of natural wellness in today's fast-paced lifestyle. We believe in the power of nature and that by using pure, natural ingredients we can help our customers achieve optimal health and wellness.