Alcohols of Bali - Arak, Brem & Tabuhan

More alcohol. Actually I don't drink very much (honestly!) but like to try local things in general when I visit a place. And we were in Bali recently and they have traditional alcohol there. 

Arak (apparently spelled 'arrack' in the West) is a traditional alcohol of Indonesia, and features in a lot of Balinese festivals and traditions, even acting as a kind of 'holy water' when mixed with good old H2O. (Bali is mainly Hindu.) Our drink was made from palm flowers, but Arak can also be made from sugar cane, fruit, rice, and other grains. The drink is clear, and around 45% proof (sometimes more). But you must try it at a reputable bar, as some cheap versions contain methanol, resulting in serious toxic damage or even recent tourist deaths. Avoid! We had ours at the lovely (reliable) Bumbu Bali restaurant and bar in Tanjong Benoa.

The clean version of Arak certainly has impact. In fact we were already teary-eyed from the chilli dip for our rice crackers - then the Arak! The drink is not sweet, and not unlike a strong version of sake. We had neat shots. But you can drink it with pineapple juice and other mixers. 

This beverage is not to be confused with the Middle Eastern 'arak' which has different ingredients. Araq in Arabic means 'perspiration' or 'distillate', apparently. And online research states the names are unrelated - but I can't help but suspect there's a connection - Indonesian language borrows a fair amount from Arabic due to previous centuries of trade.

Arak

We also tried Tabuhan at the same venue. Tabuhan is a mixture of Arak with a local Balinese drink called Brem. Brem is made from tape, a kind of fermented rice. It is also used in local temple ceremonies, the colour varying from clear to red depending on the kind of rice at the base. And judging from the Tabuhan mix, Brem is much sweeter and lighter than Arak. Tabuhan is a pleasant drink - maybe more palatable than Arak on its own!

Tabuhan

Bumbu Bali's website: http://www.balifoods.com/