The History of Naming Pempek, A Typical Food Of Palembang Indonesia

Pempek is a typical food from Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. This food made from mackerel is a very popular food, not only in Palembang, but also in other areas.

Historically, pempek has existed since the time of the Palembang Darussalam Sultanate in the 16th century. At this time pempek is called kelesan, because it has the property of being polished or can be stored for a long time. At first pempek was only served when there was a traditional ceremony, but over time it became a dish at various times, and was traded freely.

The name pempek comes from the word "empek" or "apek" which is a nickname for an old man of Chinese descent who went around selling pempek at that time.

In addition, in the past, the main ingredient of pempek was not using mackerel, but using belida fish, which is a type of fish that is often found in Palembang. But because the population is decreasing, the main ingredient of pempek is now changed to using mackerel.