Description
Arunachal Pradesh state unique 'smoky sweet-sour' traditional liquor fermenting rice husks roasted to black charred ash mixed with cooked rice and fermentation starter.
Restaurants serving Apo (Arunachal Pradesh Fermented Liquor)
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The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Apo(Rice and husk ash fermented liquor)
Instructions
- [For
- Servings/Ingredients] 500ml Apo (or Poro Apong / black rice fermented liquor),
- bamboo cylinders (or rustic wooden bowls), spicy bamboo-baked pork or chicken (for pairing).
- Farthest reaches of Northeast India, deep mountain villages in Arunachal Pradesh state. 'Apo' carefully stored inside bamboo cylinders is served at Adi/Nyishi tribe homes.
- Apo's biggest secret is 'black ash'. Since rice husks/straw are roasted to pitch-black ash mixed with cooked rice/medicinal herb starter for fermentation, liquid isn't cloudy white but 'slightly darkened brown (or gray)'.
- Pour gooey Apo brimmingly into handmade cups diagonally cut from bamboo.
- Bringing nose close, amidst Doburoku-like sweet-sour fermented odor, 'smoky ash aromas' exactly like Islay malt (peated whisky) or burnt caramel mix.
- Put mouth to bamboo edge, slurping 'zuzu' audibly. Right after intense sweetness/acidity, ash-derived savoriness and minerality cover tongue, warm intoxication of ABV (5-8%) wraps body.
- Alongside 'bamboo-baked pork' baked in bonfire or wild veg sides, sip slowly in Himalayan cold night winds—indigenous people's ultimate spiritual drink.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
None(Smoky flavor via husk ash)
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Drip little smoky whisky (Bowmore etc.) into Makgeolli (as flavor sub)
Pairing
Smoky bamboo-baked pork、Spicy wild veg stir-fry
Trivia
[Hardcore] Common method with Assam's 'Apong (Poro Apong)'. Sacred liquor indispensable for communication with gods/spirits for indigenous tribes in Arunachal Pradesh state etc. Globally unparalleled peculiar method of mixing rice husks after making them pitch-black 'ash' prevents miscellaneous bacteria breeding while adding unique 'smoky flavor and minerals'. Phantom fermented liquor beer lovers/fermentation maniacs aspire to drink once in a lifetime.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Drinking] Drop whole 'raw green chili' briefly roasted over hearth fire into Apo, burning body exhaustively from stomach via synergy of smokiness and heat!
Allergen
None