Ampo (snack) facts for kids

Ampo is a special snack from Indonesia, specifically from Central Java and East Java. It's unique because it's made entirely of soil, or pure clay, with nothing else added. People eat it as a snack or a light meal.

How Ampo is Made

Ampo is made from dark, clean earth that has no small stones. First, the soil is shaped into thin, spiral strips. Then, these spirals are baked and smoked in a large clay pot. This cooking process takes about half an hour.

To prepare the soil, a wooden stick is used to beat it until it becomes a solid, hard substance. After that, the spirals of dirt are carefully removed using a bamboo dagger. The way Ampo is made is often passed down through families, from one generation to the next. The taste of Ampo can change depending on the quality of the soil used. People who eat Ampo often describe its texture as "cool" and "creamy."

Why People Eat Clay

Eating clay, like Ampo, is a habit known as geophagy. In some parts of the world, including Indonesia, people have eaten clay for a long time. For example, in Indonesia, pregnant women sometimes eat Ampo.

Even though it might seem unusual, eating clay is a habit found in many different countries around the world. However, people in these places often don't talk about it openly.