Tenganan Pegringsingan Traditional Village Towards Candlenut Independence

Tenganan Pegringsingan Traditional Village has more than 500 ha of customary forest with quite high biological wealth, one of which is candlenut. Candlenut or in Balinese called tingkih is one of the “forbidden fruits” in Tenganan Pegringsingan. Forbidden fruit is fruit that must not be picked, it can only be used when the fruit has fallen from the tree. Usually candlenuts are collected in the morning during the harvest season.

The candlenuts that are collected are candlenuts whose skin has rotted and the shell is visible. After being collected, the candlenuts are usually dried first before being separated between the contents and the shell. In the past, candlenuts were only dried on zinc for several weeks or even months, until the candlenut shell cracked. After the candlenut shell cracks, the candlenut seeds can be easily separated from the shell. The process of drying and breaking the shell can be done by yourself, or outsourced to a candlenut cracking service. The current price of candlenut seeds is quite high, which is around Rp 55,000 per kilogram. In addition to the long process, usually from around 90 kg of shelled candlenuts only around 25 kg of candlenut seeds will be produced.

For the Tenganan Pegringsingan community, candlenut is a very important fruit. Candlenut seeds can be processed into oil that will be used as the base dye for gringsing yarn. In the past, the Tenganan Pegringsingan community, especially the gringsing weavers, made their own candlenut oil from fruit taken from the forest by pounding black candlenut seeds. But now many people buy ready-made candlenut oil from outside. There are also those who buy candlenut seeds from outside and put them in a candlenut oil making service.

Although the process of making candlenut oil is very simple, it takes quite a long time. To produce 15 liters of candlenut oil, 25 kg of candlenut seeds are needed which are processed for three days. First, the candlenut seeds are ground using a special grater, then steamed for about 40 minutes. After steaming, the candlenuts are squeezed using a special squeezer to release oil. Previously, the steamed candlenuts were wrapped in cloth to make them easier to squeeze and to get maximum results. This squeezing process takes quite a long time, until the last drop.

In addition to being processed into candlenut oil, burnt candlenut seeds can also be used in writing on lontar palm leaves. Lontar leaves are carved with a special tool for writing or drawing, then burnt candlenut seeds are rubbed on the lontar leaves, so that the picture or writing that has been made can be seen. Candlenuts are also one of the important ingredients for traditional ceremonies. Every six months, each krama (community member) of the traditional village is required to collect 150 shell candlenuts for ceremonial needs.

Currently, candlenut seeds and candlenut oil from the Tenganan Pegringsingan customary forest are starting to be optimized for their use. Both products are part of the business sector that will be developed by BUPDA Bumiaga Tenganan Pegringsingan which is supported by The Samdhana Institute (see: https://wisnu.or.id/id/2024/09/09/bupda-tenganan-ke-pengotan/). Let’s love and use our own products for a more independent and sovereign life.