Ampo (snack) facts for kids

Ampo is a food made of soil originating from Central Java and East Java, Indonesia and eaten as a snack or light meal. It consists of pure clay, without any mixture of ingredients.

Characteristics and preparation

Ampo is made from gravel-free dark earth that is formed into thin spiral strips, then baked and smoked in a large clay pot for a half hour before serving. A wooden stick is used to beat the soil into a solid hard substance, where these spirals of dirt are removed with a dagger made of bamboo. Methods and production are passed on from generationally and the taste differs based on the quality of the soil. Ampo is said to have a cool and creamy texture.

Habit

Ampo is revered by the native women who are pregnant. This habit of eating clay is also known as geophagy. Human geophagy may be related to pica, a classified eating disorder in the DSM-IV characterized by abnormal cravings for nonfood items. Many people from various countries across the world have the habit, although most of the countries that have the habit of eating clay never admit it.