Alcoholic rice beverages

Abstract

In practically all the states of India, some fermented food or drink is part of daily intake for easy digestion of food. In eastern India, it is rice beer or wine. Drinking alcoholic beverages may be seen as stigma in many societies but in Eastern India, it has a place equivalent to that of lassi (beverage made from curd) and tea as a food item. Rice beer has achieved a holy status as it is used as a welcome drink by most of the tribes. It is equally liked by children, adults, men, and women and also used as offerings to deities and no ceremony is complete without ample use of rice beer. During the British period, authorities banned the production of this homemade drink to collect excise from distilled drinks, but it created social problems. This paper especially highlights various alcoholic rice beverages prepared by various tribes and their role in cultural life in eastern India.