10 Traditional Alcoholic Drinks in Indonesia That Surprisingly Exist

Indonesia surprisingly has traditional alcoholic beverages where come from different regions. Apart from the alcoholic beverage controversy against the law in Indonesia, some regions keep developing drinks with intoxicating substances.

In some regions, even though the existence is a dispute for some reason the alcoholic drinks interestingly become part of the culture. Commonly they use to welcoming the guests or certain celebrations in custom culture.

Indonesian makes the alcoholic drink with traditional fermentation. Commonly they using some fruits, rice, sap, and many more. Here we have some traditional alcoholic drinks in Indonesia that exist for a long time ago. Let’s check them out!

1. Arak Bali

Arak Bali is the most famous alcoholic drink in Indonesia that originally comes from Bali.  It is made from the combination of glutinous rice, palm sugar, some flowers, and fruits from the palm trees. These ingredients are then fermented properly in a traditional way.

The Arak Bali contains a higher rate of alcohol than you think. It claims to reach about 50% of alcohol. Traditionally, this kind of drink is using by Balinese as the offering to their God. In Balinese Hinduism, the arrack becomes one of the important things that offer from their greatest God. You can even found them in Ngaben as the unique death ritual in Indonesia.

2. Sopi

Sopi is a traditional alcoholic drink that originally comes from Maluku and Flores. Sopi claims have been existed since about the 15 century when Netherland invaded Maluku and some regions around it. Malukunese, Sopi calls as the brotherhood drink as part of a traditional ceremony in Indonesia.

Sopi was made from the Nira or sap, which fermented in about ten days. It mixes perfectly with the Husor root powder then fermented in the bamboo. Usually, people using the special bamboo then drank them for it directly.

There are two ways to enjoy Sopi where you can drink them all without any addition or you can simply put ginseng.  The taste still some in a great way.

3. Ballo

Ballo is a traditional alcoholic drink that originally comes from the south of Sulawesi. It was made from the sap of the Lontar tree which fermented perfectly in a couple of days. This drink comes from the culture of Toraja tribe so that you will find them in some rituals and social custom meeting as the famous cultures in Indonesia.

People drank the Ballo using the cup which made by bamboo. The taste is harder than you think even contains only 10% of alcohol for the sweet Ballo. But for the Kacci Ballo, it contains more than 10% alcohol on it.

4. Ciu

Ciu is a traditional alcoholic drink that originally comes from central Java, specifically in Banyumas and Solo. It is made by the fermentation of sugar cane tree and the cassava. Ciu contains about 70% of alcohol so that it commonly likes Vodka.

Javanese believe by drink the Ciu regularly is good for their health as if drink the traditional herb. Commonly, if you try the Ciu for the first time, Javanese will recommend to mix it with some cola or juice.

5. Tuak

Tuak is the traditional alcoholic drink that originally comes from Sumatera and Lombok. Since it comes from different places but the taste comes in almost the same way. In the north of Sumatera, the Tuak will come in a sweetness taste, but in Lombok it more a bit sourness inside.

The Tuak contains lower alcohol within 8%, with a freshness taste. It made from the extract flowers of palm tree then mix perfectly with some roots and spices. In Sumatera, people mix them with some fruits to make a sweetness taste.

6. Swansrai

Swansrai is the alcoholic drink that originally comes from Papua. It is made from the fermentation of the oldest coconut water. Papuan loves this kind of drink the most than other drinks.

Usually, you find the Swansrai in Papua to welcoming important guests or when someone coming to their house. They call the drink as the brotherhood drink even it contains 30% of alcohol.

7. Lapen

Lapen is the original alcoholic drink that comes from Yogyakarta. It is made from pure alcohol which contains about 80% of alcohol. Then it mixes perfectly with water with a 1:4 or 1:5 of the comparison. Some people usually mix them with some fruits to make some sweetness taste.

Even though Lapen is illegal to consume, but some people still produce them for private sale or even a big business one.

8. Cap Tikus

Cap Tikus is the traditional alcoholic drink that comes from Minahasa, the north of Sulawesi. This drink looks like the Swansrai from Papua but contains higher alcohol with more than 40% of alcohol. It claims as to the only alcoholic drink which legally for sale in the north of Sulawesi.

Cap Tikus made from Nira or Saguer so that it has the freshness taste. People mention that higher alcohol commonly depends on the distillation system. The more you distill them so the higher alcohol will follow the drink.

9. Brem Bali

Brem Bali is the alcoholic drink from Bali which is made from the fermentation of sticky rice. Commonly it is used to rituals only, but since it becomes popular not only for domestic tourists but also for foreign tourists as the effect of tourism in Bali, then it becomes legal for sale as the souvenir.

10. Bir Jawa

Bir Jawa is a traditional alcoholic drink that comes from Yogyakarta. It is made from some herbs and spices so that it contains no alcohol.

So, there are 10 traditional alcoholic drinks in Indonesia that surprisingly exist. Have you ever try atleast one of them?