During 13 days, we were at five different locations, had ten flights and visited 12 spice processors and dealers. Come and join and participate our experiences! On the first of our travel report about Indonesia, we visit spice processors in Medan, meet some big pepper dealers in Jakarta and make aquaintance with a Pepper farmer in Bangka. Join us….
 
 
From Medan, Jakarta to Bangka

Our journey begins in Medan, situated on the north-eastern coastline of Sumatra. This is the origin of Indonesian Cassia, despite of Padang at the west-coast and Kerinci, east of it. Rubber, tee, palm oil and Cassia are the most important agricultural products here.
 

Medan north – east cost of Sumatra

Medan, as a harbor city, with its 3 billion inhabitants, is the capital of the North Sumatra Province. The name means “battlefield”, because sultants of Delhi and Aceh had fought here. Even today, predominately Muslims live here.
 

Cassia processing in Medan 
 
Three of the main five processors are situated in this town. All of them are directly located at the main road, only 500 m away from each other.The roads in the area are access roads with only two lanes. Alongside this traffic is chaotic. At the bottlenecks, four to six vehicles or motor rollers or trucks, have to share the road. This requires a great deal of patience and strong nerves. Left hand traffic, consequently in roundabouts and driveways. It is valid: left before right and not vice-versa.
 
Raspy honking of trucks and blaring horns of motor scooters: they all ask for priority and accelerate in trust of God. Sometimes, the adequate safety distance is only some centimeters. But who cares? Do not hesitate – otherwise you will lose the game of forces.
 

 

Our chauffeur drives very carefully, passing burned out fuel tankers in front of gasoline stations, on busy roads. Nevertheless, it needs 90 minutes for 17 km, before we change the direction. Very soon it becomes clear: “Binjai 17, Julang 5” means that we should follow the road 17 km and then have to find the next road. On this, we will have to stay 5 km. If there is no production building next to the road, just raise your mobile and call your host. Finally, we are lucky – when our driver stands in front of a long wall without a company’s name on it. A loud honking makes everyone flinch and turn the attention to the car – now the gate opens from inside.
 
Normally, Cassia production is an easy thing to do – despite of some dusts. You do not need high-tech equipment. If Cassia is dried and scrabbed, you need incoming goods control for some parameters, post-drying in a covered place, sorting out, pre-cutting, grinding and sieving. But control of foreign matters and hygienic affairs are of great importance. Even this is difficult in some companies. Many Indonesian companies – even if already established for a long time – do not know about European requirements. They do not have certifications, neither HACCP nor Good Manufacturing Practice. As long as a company exclusively delivered to Asian Countries, they did not need to know about it. No wonder that we stopped our audits very soon within two of three suppliers. You have to think on this like this: driver honks in front of the wall, gate opens, stepping out of the car recognizing rubbish everywhere, open doors to production and animals on the production site. In this case the audit is finished within only some seconds. – Indeed, it cannot!
 

 
After two bad experiences, one processor is really good. Chapeau! A Singapore-located company owned by two Indians, clean and tidy, post drying under a protected roof, FSSC 22000 in place.
 

 
Production instructions in pictograms hang on the wall of every production section. They have installed a drinking water treatment, grinding sector in an own hygienic zone, an own well equipment lab in place. No grumbling because of my audit questions, no muttering because of high European demands. One of the very rare audits, where we do not have to say sorry for stupid questions. Conclusion: a very good supplier!