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Made in India is all the rage right now and why should our locally produced traditional liquors be left behind? While most of these are in the moonshine category and you may not have easy (or legal) access to them, even just knowing about these drinks will surely make you happy!
1BHANG – North & Central India
Holi haain…. toh bhaaang bhi hain !
Crushed cannabis leaves mixed with herbs, spices and sweetened milk. It is like the cooler, older cousin of Thandai or masala milk in India. It tastes amazing enough to lure you into drinking a couple of glasses. But our advice is to take it easy because when Bhang hits you, it really hits you.
2FENI – Goa
Goans are smart, while they export their amazing produce of cashew nuts to different parts of the world, they keep the really good stuff for themselves. We’re talking about Feni, Goa’s local liquor made with fermented juice from cashew apples.
We know being in Goa increases everybody’s drinking capacity, but if you’re trying Feni, you should better be careful.
3TODDY / NEERA – South India
Drinking Toddy also known as Neera in rural South India is equivalent to drinking a chilled beer at the end of a long day. Made with fermented coconut water, this drink is usually mild, but an increase in the fermentation period makes it stronger. Watching the toddy makers collect the sap from tall palm trees adds to the fun experience of drinking it.
4HANDIA – Jharkhand
Handia is a fermented tablet made with a mix of herbs and rice water. It’s like a flavoured Rice beer and is a vital part of the local people, especially some tribes of Jharkhand. It is a must during certain festivals and pujas celebrated by the locals of Jharkhand.
5MAHUA – Bihar / UP
Beautiful and innocent looking Mahua flowers are fermented and distilled to make this potent drink in Uttar Pradesh. Nearly 90% of the yearly production of Mahua flowers in Jharkhand, Assam and surrounding areas is used to make this local drink. In fact, there is even some news about the Government launching fancy bottled versions of this local drink…Fingers crossed!
6LUGDI – Himachal
If you are a Yeh Jawani Hain Deewani fan, you already know about this Lugdi. Made with Barley, millet, jaggery and apples, this fermented drink is meant to keep you warm in the chilled Himalayan weather and give you the perfect happy high too!
7KESAR KASTURI – Rajasthan
Everything about Rajasthan is Royal and the local liquor from the state is no different. The base ingredient in Kesar Kasturi is precious saffron, accompanied by 21 other herbs and spices. A small quantity of Kesar Kasturi from Rajasthan is enough to give you a big buzz.
8ARAK – Ladakh
All of us have a ‘Ladakh Trip’ on our to-do lists, the same way you should also have ‘drink Arak’ on that list! Arak is made with grapes and Aniseeds (seeds of the Anise plant) a local plant, which are fermented and then infused together. It is not the easiest to find, but if you ask the locals, they will be able to tell you about the best places to get some.
9CHANDRAHAS – Jaipur
Another delicious drink from Rajasthan, Chandrahas is a flavourful blend of 84 herbs, spices and dry fruits mixed in systematic proportion, the use of saffron is what gives it that light golden colour. It is then sent for distillation in a local distillery in Jaipur. What used to be a secret royal recipe is now available for everyone to try.
10KINNAURI / CHULLI – Himachal Pradesh
Mildly alcoholic, Chulli also known as Ghanti or Kinnauri Ghanti is a popular drink in the villages of Himachal, made with a mix of apricots and apples gives it a sweetish hint to it. Chulli is also said to have medicinal properties that treat mild colds and coughs.
Local Indian drinks have their own distinct flavour and essence that you can experience well in their home town. They are definitely worth experiencing once in a lifetime, so here is our list of Local Indian Liquor. Have you tried any of these or other local Indian liquors? Tell us @things2doinmumbai @Alcohowl on Instagram!
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Vruddhi Vora September 29, 2022
