Lombok is a generic name in Indonesia for chiles about the size of one’s finger.They can be dark green or bright red.
The word will usually be accompanied by an adjective, giving more details about the exact kind of chile meant.
- Lombok Hijan: green peppers
- Lombok Merab: red peppers
- Lombok Merak: from Merak province
- Lombok Rawit: bird’s eye red peppers, called “Tabia kerinyi” on Bali
Language Notes
Lombok is the name of a Muslim island east of Bali. The chiles were probably introduced to the island of Lombok by Portuguese traders from Goa, India.
On the island of Lombok itself, the chiles are not called Lombok; they are called “cabe,” In Bali, they are called “tabia.”