What is dadiah and can you make it at home?

What is dadiah?

Dadiah (also spelled dadih) is a fermented milk from the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, Indonesia. Fresh buffalo milk is poured into a section of bamboo, capped with banana leaf and left at room temperature for about two days. Lactic acid bacteria, possibly from the milk, bamboo or leaf, ferment it with no starter added, and it sets into a soft, tangy, yogurt-like curd. It is served at weddings and traditional ceremonies and used in dishes; serving styles vary.

Do not confuse it with a different Indonesian and Malaysian sweet also spelled dadih, a milk pudding thickened with gelatin or agar. Also, the old version of this page described a coconut milk and yeast dish, which was incorrect.

Can you make dadiah at home?

Not authentically, for two reasons. Traditional dadiah is made from fresh, raw, unheated buffalo milk, which is hard to get outside producing regions. And raw milk is risky: the CDC says it can carry germs such as Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria, Brucella and Salmonella, and recommends pasteurized milk. Spontaneous fermentation in bamboo cannot be controlled at home, so we do not provide a raw-milk method.

What is a safe way to get a similar result?

For something similar in taste and texture, make a simple yogurt-style ferment:

1. Use pasteurized whole milk (buffalo milk if you can find it, otherwise cow).
2. Heat gently, cool to lukewarm and stir in a spoonful of plain live-culture yogurt.
3. Keep it warm until it sets, then refrigerate.

Home yogurt guides give exact temperatures and times; follow one from a food-safety source. The result is not dadiah, but it is a similar fermented milk. Serve it plain or with fruit.

Where can you try real dadiah?

Mostly in West Sumatra, for example at weddings and traditional ceremonies. It is hard to find elsewhere.

Is dadiah healthy?

Dadiah is studied by scientists for its lactic acid bacteria, but we found no official health claim for eating it. Do not rely on it for health benefits. Pregnant women, older adults, children and people with weak immune systems should avoid raw-milk products.