RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Kimpul, one of Indonesia's traditional root crops, has recently become a hot topic on social media, particularly TikTok. The tuber, long known as a traditional staple food, has regained popularity after TikTok creator @black.sheep8208 popularized the phrase "Saya ganti kimpul" ("I replaced it with kimpul") through a series of creative videos.

In the videos, the creator demonstrates how kimpul can be used as a substitute for ingredients such as potatoes and rice. The versatile tuber has been transformed into a variety of modern dishes, including mashed kimpul, lasagna, salads, and other contemporary snacks.

The trend has sparked widespread curiosity among social media users. Many netizens commented that they had never heard of kimpul before discovering the viral TikTok videos, highlighting how the platform has introduced the traditional ingredient to a younger audience.

Kimpul (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) is a tropical tuber that has long been cultivated in many parts of Indonesia. For generations, it has served as an important source of food, although its popularity declined over time as rice, potatoes, and other staple foods became more widely consumed.

Besides being versatile in the kitchen, kimpul also offers notable nutritional value. It contains carbohydrates for energy, dietary fiber, as well as essential vitamins and minerals, making it a promising alternative local food source that can support dietary diversification.

However, kimpul must be prepared properly before consumption. The tuber naturally contains calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause an itchy sensation if it is not cooked thoroughly. To prevent this, it is typically peeled, soaked, and then boiled or steamed before being processed into various dishes.

The growing popularity of kimpul on social media has also become an opportunity to reintroduce Indonesia's rich culinary heritage to younger generations. Amid the rise of digital food trends, the resurgence of kimpul demonstrates that traditional local ingredients can be reinvented into nutritious, appealing, and contemporary dishes while preserving their cultural roots.