Feni

Feni Drink
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.