One
of the most famous and popular drinks that Goa is actually synonymous
with is the Feni. Also known as the Fenny, this Goan drink can get a
person drunk in no time. This Indian liquor is of two types - Cashew
Feni and Coconut Feni. While coconut Feni is made by fermenting the
fruit of the Cashew tree, coconut Feni is made from the juice of toddy
plants. The Goan Fenny is usually considered to be superior compared to
all other types of Fenny. The Feni drink of Goa is a must try if you are
visiting Goa anytime.
The process of making the cashew Feni is quite tedious and involves
quite some amount of effort. First, the cashew apples are crushed
manually in a rock atop a hill that is in the shape of a basin. This
natural basin has a separate for allowing the juice to flow out when the
cashew apples are being crushed. This juice is collected in an earthen
pot which is then buried deep inside the ground to allow fermentation.
During fermentation, almost 4% of the juice is turned into alcohol. This
juice is then collected and distilled in copper pots. Then the juice is
heated and the alcohol vapors are collected in a cooling condenser.
The distillation process is repeated three times. The first distilled
juice that is obtained is known as Urrack. This drink is of a very low
strength and is not too heady. The second drink is known as Cazulo which
is slightly stronger than Urrack. Cazulo is not that popular and is
hardly sold in markets. The final juice that comes out is very powerful
and highly intoxicating and is known as Feni. This product has a pretty
long shelf life is liked much by people. Though it can be taken neat,
people sometimes prefer to mix it with cola, soda and lemon juice.
The most unique characteristic of Feni is its distinct smell that can
be detected from quite a distance when Feni is being distilled. The
quality of genuine Feni is determined by its aroma. The Feni that is
produced after the third distillation is a product that is known for its
excellence and high quality. This Feni is quite strong and one gets
carried away by the aroma itself when the bottle is opened and Feni is
poured in a glass. Fenny can be enjoyed neat as well as a cocktail since
it has a versatile base. So when you do visit Goa, make sure you enjoy
the beauty of the place with this intoxicating drink in your hand to add
to the fun.
