Are you wondering what to drink in Bali? You can find various drinks — cocktails, liqueurs, spirits, and beers. But the magic lies in the island’s authentic beverages. Whether you’re into alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, Bali has something unique to offer.
Why should you try local drinks?
They blend traditional recipes with local ingredients and a splash of Balinese heritage. Every sip reveals the island’s rich history. And, of course, it goes without saying that you’ll not get to indulge in these delightful Bali drinks anywhere else!
This blog will reveal the top drinks to sample in Bali.
10 Top Non-Alcoholic Bali Drinks
Kuwut Ice
Kuwut Ice is a refreshing drink from coconut water, fresh fruits like cantaloupe or melon, basil seeds, and fresh young coconut meat. It’s flavoured with a hint of pandan or a splash of lime.
Taste: It has a sweet, mildly nutty flavour.
Appearance: Kuwut Ice is served chilled with ice cubes. It has a clear, light green colour with bits of coconut meat floating inside.
Food Pairings: You can have this drink with light, fresh dishes like salads, seafood, or spicy Balinese cuisine.
Daluman Ice
Daluman Ice or Es Cincau is made from daluman (green jelly made from Cincau leaves), coconut water, and a touch of palm sugar.
Taste: The drink is sweet, mildly floral and refreshing. The daluman jelly adds a chewy texture.
Appearance: Daluman Ice is vibrant green. It’s served with ice.
Food Pairings: You can enjoy Daluman Ice with fresh fruit, desserts, or traditional Balinese snacks.
Loloh Cemcem Ice
This drink is made from cemcem leaves (a local herb), coconut water, and a hint of palm sugar.
Taste: It tastes bitter with herbal notes from the cemcem leaves. Palm sugar and coconut water balance the flavour.
Appearance: It’s rich green and served with ice.
Food Pairings: You can pair this drink with traditional Balinese dishes or light, spicy, or savoury snacks.
Jamu
Jamu is made from a blend of turmeric, ginger, tamarind, and honey. It can be served warm or cold. It can be infused with additional spices like cinnamon or cloves.
Taste: Jamu has an earthy flavour. Ginger and turmeric give it a spicy kick. The tamarind adds a tangy note. Honey adds to the sweetness.
Appearance: The drink is golden-yellow.
Food Pairings: Jamu pairs well with light, fresh, simple, savoury dishes or fruit.
Kopi Luwak
Kopi Luwak or Civet Coffee is one of the world’s most expensive coffees. It’s made from coffee cherries that are eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. The cherries undergo fermentation during digestion. After they’ve been defecated, they’re collected, washed, dried, and roasted. This process gives the coffee its distinctive taste and aroma.
Taste: It’s rich and smooth with low acidity. It’s earthy and slightly sweet due to chocolate and caramel.
Appearance: Kopi Luwak is served black or with a touch of milk.
Food Pairings: This premium coffee goes well with pastries or desserts. You can enjoy it as well.
Kopi Bali
Kopi Bali is a premium coffee grown on Bali’s volcanic soil. It’s made from Robusta beans. These beans are known for their bold, robust flavour and are often roasted to a medium or dark roast to bring out their full-bodied profile.
Taste: Kopi Bali has a rich, aromatic flavour with a smooth taste. It has notes of chocolate, nuts, and a hint of spice. It’s robust and mellow.
Appearance: The coffee is deep, rich brown or black, depending on the roast. It can be served as is or with milk.
Food Pairings: Kopi Bali pairs well with breakfast pastries, hearty breakfast dishes, or light desserts.
Kintamani Coffee
This distinctive coffee is organically grown in the high-altitude volcanic soil of Kintamani alongside citrusy plantations. The ripe coffee cherries naturally absorb the citrusy aroma from the other trees, which imparts them a unique flavour profile.
Taste: Kintamani Coffee is aromatic with a medium body. It’s low in caffeine. It has citrusy notes with hints of chocolate and a slight floral undertone. The coffee has a pleasant acidity.
Appearance: It’s medium to dark brown with a clear appearance in the cup.
Food Pairings: You can pair this coffee with breakfast items, pastries or desserts.
Young Coconut
Young coconuts have more water and jelly-like meat than mature ones.
Taste: Young coconut water is refreshing, mildly sweet and clean with a subtle hint of coconut.
Appearance: It’s clear or slightly milky, depending on the coconut’s maturity. It’s served chilled with floating pieces of tender coconut meat, a half slice and squeezed lime, and sugar syrup for an improved taste.
Food Pairings: It pairs well with fresh salads, spicy meals or light seafood. It’s also great as a standalone, cooling treat.
Teh Tarik
Teh Tarik is a popular Southeast Asian tea made from black tea, condensed milk, and evaporated milk. The tea is “pulled” by pouring it back and forth between two containers from a height. This action mixes the tea and milk thoroughly.
Taste: It’s smooth, sweet and creamy. The condensed milk makes it rich. The pulling process gives it a smooth, frothy consistency.
Appearance: The tea has a caramel colour with a creamy, frothy top. It’s served in a glass to showcase its distinctive layered appearance.
Food Pairings: Teh Tarik pairs well with Jajan Pasar (Javanes cake), breakfast items, spicy curries, fried snacks, or pastries.
Es Cincau
Es Cincau is a popular jelly dessert drink in Southeast Asia. It’s made from black or green cincau (grass jelly), coconut milk, pandan leaves and syrup. The mixture is poured over crushed ice and topped with condensed milk.
Taste: The drink is mildly sweet. It has a herbal flavour along with a creamy, smooth taste of coconut milk.
Appearance: Es Cinca is dark brown and creamy, white.
Food Pairings: This drink pairs well with salads, fruit, spicy or rich foods.
Pro Tip for Non-Alcoholic Drinks: For the best experience, choose non-alcoholic drinks from reputable cafes or vendors. This ensures you enjoy fresh, authentic flavours and avoids potential disappointment with poorly made or stale products.
6 Top Alcoholic Bali Drinks
Brem
Brem is a traditional Balinese rice wine made from fermented sticky rice. It comes in two types: sweet and dry, depending on how it’s made and whether sugar or spices are added. This ceremonial wine is used in certain temple ceremonies called Tetabuhan as an offering to the gods.
Alcohol Content: It can range from 5% to 20% by volume, depending on the type and how it’s made. The exact percentage can vary between different brands and varieties.
Taste: Brem is sweet with earthy, malty hints. Depending on the type, it can taste mildly sweet or more robust and tangy.
Appearance: It’s clear, pale amber or light brown. It may appear slightly cloudy due to the fermentation process.
Food Pairings: Brem pairs well with rich, sweet or spicy flavours.
Arak
This drink is made from distilled rice or palm sap. Local bars as well as high end cocktail and speakeasy bars in Bali have Arak on their menus.
Alcohol Content: It can range from 40% to 50% by volume. This high strength makes it a potent spirit, so it’s important to drink it responsibly.
Taste: Arak is strong and mildly sweet. Its taste can change based on the ingredients.
Appearance: Arak is clear and colourless.
Food Pairings: Arak pairs well with spicy or rich foods.
Bali Cocktails
Bali is known for its creative and tropical cocktails found in cocktail bars all over the island. From classic cocktails made with a tropical twist to completely new concoctions, you are never at risk of getting bored by the mixed drinks on offer throughout Bali.
Try: Mango Daiquiris, Passion Fruit Mojitos, Durian Martinis, Pina Coladas served in a young coconut or Pandan Sours.
Taste:
Tastes can be anything from Fruity to Spicy, Creamy, Sweet, Refreshing or Herbal.
Appearance:
Cocktails in Bali are aesthetically pleasing showcasing the Balinese creative touch and served with plenty of garnishes.
Food Pairings:
Light, savoury meals pair best with cocktails.
Bintang Beer
Bintang Beer is a popular American-style pale lager brewed domestically from barley, hops, malt, and water. You can find it at almost all the bars in Bali. It’s owned by Heineken.
Alcohol Content: It’s 4.7% by volume.
Taste: Bintang Beer is crisp and light, with a mild bitterness and a hint of malty sweetness. It’s refreshing with a clean finish.
Appearance: It’s pale golden with a frothy white head.
Food Pairings: You can have it with fried foods, grilled meats, seafood, or spicy dishes.
Stark Craft Beer
Stark Craft Beer is a premium Balinese beer. It’s Bali’s first premium craft beer on the island. It uses top-quality ingredients, including pure spring water from Batu Karu Mountain. It’s available in various styles, including wheat, dark wheat, mango ale, lychee ale, low carb, and Indonesian pale ale.
Alcohol Content: Its alcohol content ranges from 4% to 6% by volume, depending on the style.
Taste:
- Wheat beer: Smooth and slightly fruity
- Dark wheat: Deep malty notes
- Mango ale: Tropical and sweet
- Lychee ale Tropical sweet
- Low carb: Light and crispy
- Indonesian pale ale: Bold, hoppy
Appearance: Wheat beer is cloudy. Dark wheat is deep amber. Lychee beer is slightly pinkish.
- Wheat beer: Pale and cloudy
- Dark wheat: Deep amber
- Mango ale: Golden
- Lychee ale: Slight pinkish
- Low carb: Clear and light
- Indonesian pale ale: Amber with a frothy head
Food Pairings:
- Wheat beer: Seafood
- Dark wheat: Grilled meats
- Mango ale: Tropical dishes
- Lychee ale: Spicy foods or desserts
- Low carb: Light salads
- Indonesian pale ale: Rich, flavourful dishes
Bali Wine
Bali Wine is produced from locally grown grapes, like Alphonse Lavallée, Belgia, and Muscat. These wines have a unique regional flavour.
Alcohol Content: It can range from 12% to 14% by volume, depending on the variety and production process.
Taste:
Red wines: Fruity with hints of berries and plums
White wines: Light and floral
Rosés: Refreshing, crisp taste
Appearance:
Red wines: Deep and vibrant
White wines: Clear to pale yellow
Rosés: Light pink
Food Pairings:
Red wines: Grilled meats and rich dishes
White wines: Seafood and salads
Rosés: Spicy foods or as an aperitif
Pro Tip for Alcoholic Drinks: Always purchase alcoholic beverages from established bars, well-known restaurants, or licensed distributors. This way you avoid the risk of consuming inferior or unsafe drinks.
