By Bornika Das
July 5, 2023
Alcohol has always played a significant role in the history and ancient cultures of human civilisation. In earlier times, fermented beverages have been intertwined with religious, social, and medicinal practices. Here are 7 indigenous alcohols from across the world you might not know:
Chicha is a traditional Peruvian beverage with a history rooted in the Andean regions. Made from maize, the process involves germinating the kernels to activate enzymes that convert starches into sugars.
It is an ancient Mexican beverage, and is made from fermented agave sap. Historically, plaque was consumed by priests and warriors during special occasions.
Sake, the iconic rice wine of Japan, is made with polished rice, steamed and mixed with koji and water. It is deeply intertwined with Japanese customs, representing hospitality, harmony, and togetherness
It is the traditional drink of the Limbu community and many others in Nepal. Tongba is traditionally sipped through a bamboo straw, fostering a sense of togetherness.
Tella is a traditional Ethiopian beer brewed by soaking barley grains and fermenting them in water. Tella has a sour taste with hints of sweetness, and it is traditionally served in a shared vessel called a Berele.
The drink was discovered around 7000 BC. This early rice wine was made by fermenting rice, honey and fruit.
It is a distilled alcohol which was made in India. It was brewed from rice meal, wheat, sugar cane, grapes, and other fruits, was popular among the Kshatriya warriors and the peasant population.
Mahua, a flower-based distilled spirit that has been made for ages by the tribal people of Central India, especially Chhattisgarh, the alcohol harmonises nature's sweetness with a tantalising aroma, leaving a lingering impression on the palate