Boozy Flavours From Goa

Imagine yourself relaxing on a bed of sand, soaking up the sun on a beach and letting all the stress go away. While in India, it goes without saying that the word ‘beaches’ inevitably takes you to Goa, the land of happiness. Be it the palatable seafood or the beautiful colonial vibes of the city, one can just not escape falling in love with this place.

We all know how Goa is everyone’s favourite destination for partying and letting your hair loose. But other than all the goodness this city has to offer it is the spirit of this place that makes it so special. If you’re a party animal, you know every party is a dull moment until the liquor arrives into it. And this is exactly what we’re bringing to the table this month – a special Goan delicacy.

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One of the most well-known alcoholic beverages in India is the Feni Drink of Goa. Travels to Goa aren't complete without a few sips of the Feni drink on one of the beaches because it is so well-liked by everyone who visits this city for a vacation. From the beaches of Goa to the coasts of America, this acclaimed local booze is travelling. Yes, the Goan Feni will soon become a staple on American beaches for the first time. Feni drink from Goa is being brought to beach vacationers in the US by Wirtz Beverage Illinois.

Travels to Goa aren't complete without a few sips of the Feni drink on one of the beaches because it is so well-liked by everyone who visits this city for a vacation.

How Is It Made?

The drink typically comes in different variations. Alas, cashew and coconut Feni are the two flavours which are mostly consumed and liked all over the country. Strong and flavorful with a hint of fruit, cashew feni is an alcoholic beverage. It is created by fermenting and distilling the juice of cashew apples.

Each bottle of the primary varieties of Feni contains 43–45% alcohol and is manufactured from either cashew apples or coconut sap. This liquor can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, including with ice, neat, with mixers for soft drinks, and in cocktails. Additionally, there are several pubs and eateries in Goa where you may sample Feni, as well as a few cocktail bars in Chicago. The beverage is native to Goa and received a Geographical Indication (GI) in 2009.

Despite being complicated, the production of cashew feni is quite natural. A hilltop basin-shaped rock is where cashew apples are hand crushed. Crushed cashew apple juice drains from the basin into a clay pot that is buried well into the earth for fermentation. Only 4% of the juice that is fermented turns into alcohol. Copper pans are used to distillate the juice, which is subsequently heated.

Best Ways To Drink

The sweet fruity notes of the cashew feni give a peculiar taste to the drink. This allows you to experiment with the ways of drinking. Unlike other alcoholic beverages, this one has a subtle texture to it.

Green apple, red apple, guava, orange, lime, and cherry tomatoes can all be combined with feni. The combination of green apple and lime is popular because it makes feni taste blissful. Perad, a classic Goan dessert prepared with guava puree and coconut jaggery, is the next item on the menu. Perad and Feni made a fantastic pairing.

Feni may be combined with juices or traditional cocktails, or it can be enjoyed plain or on the rocks. A lime slice can be added, and sugar or sugar syrup, which are common additives, can also be given with it.

Cola, tonic water, and lemonade are other common mixers; the latter is perhaps the most often used. Feni is also used in cooking in a variety of ways, including as the foundation for the well-known Vindaloo curry and as a marinade for several meat dishes with garlic, ginger, Indian spices, and vinegar.

From the May 2024 issue of FHM India.