Alcohol came to India way earlier than the world would imagine. Actually, the Indus Valley civilization was among the first civilizations to discover the science of distillation and put it to good use. Alcohol was also a homegrown essential as any other staple. A complete set of distillation items and vats have been recovered from excavation sites, making it clear that the people living in the region that comprises modern India and Pakistan, practiced both fermentation and distillation of beverages using natural sweet and starchy items. At Red Earth, our resorts in Kabini and Tadoba we have special fruit cocktails for you to relish.
The Rigveda creates a set of rules for alcohol consumption. It prohibits alcohol for Brahmins and students. But soma, a fermented beverage, is offered to gods who love it. There are many hymns praising the soma in Vedas. The soma plant growing in the mountains is believed to have been brought from heaven. The personified deity Soma is believed to be the “master of plants”, “the healer of disease”, “and the bestower of riches”. It was the favorite refreshment of the King of Gods, Indra. Then the drink was given to the Gandharva for safe-keeping but one day Agni, the fire-god, stole it and gave it to the human ra
So that was the story of how Alcohol never came to India but was always there. Now let us understand the various local alcohols consumed in different states of India.
Chaang: In Jammu and Kashmir regions, Ladakh and Assam, semi-fermented barley, millet, or rice grains are used to brew the drink. Often served piping-hot in brass or wooden bowls when the weather is colder.
Kesar Kasturi, Saunf, Jagmohan, Mawalin, Elaichi: Royal families across Rajasthan had their own liqueur versions, with Mahansar’s even going back to the 1770s. Kesar, saunf, elaichi, etc along with spices, herbs, and dry fruits are soaked in spirits and water for seven to eight days and are then put for distillation before they are brewed.
Toddy: Sap of coconut tree which is fermented a night before consumption, it’s an easy-breezy local drink in the southern parts of India like Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Toddy is served as either neera which is a sweet, non-alcoholic beverage derived from fresh sap, or kallu, a sour alcoholic beverage made from fermented sap.
Mahua: Mahua flowers are fermented in a barrel. The cost of dried mahua flowers is quite less in comparison to other raw materials sources. The tribal communities of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odhisha consider the tree and Mahua drink as a part of their cultural heritage. At Red Earth, our resort in Tadoba, we have a special Mahua cocktail which is a must-try. One of the best indigenous liquor mahua, make one of the best cocktails. Adding mahua spirit with any other flavor gives it an instant uplifting effect as it has some great floral aroma. We add some great flavor and drama to make you a delightful cocktail.
Passion Fruit Cocktail at Red Earth, our resort in Kabini:
Lemon, lime, oranges, and pineapple may be the fruits you associate with a tropical drink. But, our passion fruit cocktail, which features the citrus flavor of passion fruit, is the perfect way to give you a beachy vibe. Not only does it taste delicious it can also be considered healthy alcohol as passion fruit contains Vitamin C and E. And the reason for it being so good is because they are made from the passion fruits that are grown on the resort and the concentrate is free of any artificial additives. We promise you that you will fall in love with this golden liquor. Our entire resort is overgrown with Passion fruit vines that drape themselves over roofs, intertwine themselves into trees and hang down from the bushes.
Also, the bar is well stocked and serves a good range of wines, beers, and other liquor. The aesthetics of the bar are a mix of local and colonial ideas. The bar table also is a piece of art as its various parts are being impressively made from a single, large tree trunk.
Red Earth is the prime eco-friendly resort in Kabini you have to stay at to experience the essence of Kabini along with the luxuries of the resort.
