Sold Cheap, But Slim Profits: The Dilemma of Iced Tea Vendors in South Jakarta's Manggarai

In the corners of the alleys in RW 07, Manggarai, South Jakarta, housewives open iced tea stalls in front of their homes every morning. With simple wooden tables, the strong aroma of tea wafts from the row of small kiosks. Boiling tea water, still steaming, is stirred directly with granulated sugar at their selling spots. Each plastic cup of iced tea sold represents hope for survival amid the harsh realities of city life. One vendor, Yuli Yanti (34), claims to have relied on her iced tea business for over a dozen years. “Since 2008, after getting married and eventually having children, while helping with the family finances alongside my husband,” Yuli revealed when met at her stall in Manggarai on Wednesday (29/4/2026). Yuli also stocks her wares with other items like seblak, instant noodles, french fries, and frozen food. The simple stall greatly aids her family’s economy, especially when her husband falls ill and cannot work optimally. From that amount, the profit obtained is relatively slim, around Rp 40,000 per day. Profits can increase during hot weather when sales exceed 50 portions. Amid the thin margins, the vendors now face rising material costs, particularly for plastic. “Yes, that’s true, plastic prices are expensive now, the one that used to cost Rp 10,000 per pack has risen to Rp 15,000,” said Yuli. In a day, she needs at least two packs of clear plastic.