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Types of fenny
Coconut fenny - This type of fenny is made from coconut.
Cashew fenny - This fenny is made from the cashew, is also called Kaju fenny.
Preparation
In the traditional method of making cashew fenny, the cashew apples are manually crushed in a coimbi, a rock on the hill which is carved or shaped like a basin with an outlet for the juice. The juice is collected in a huge earthen pot called Kodem, which is buried in the ground. The juice is then distilled in earthen or copper pots.
When the cashew apples are crushed, the pulp is arranged in the shape of a cake in the coimbi and tied with a string. A huge boulder is then placed on top of it. The final quota of juice which trickles out in a clean form is called Neero. Many people like to drink Neero since it helps bowel movement and provides relief from constipation.
The traditional method of distilling cashew fenny on the hill is very interesting to watch. The cashew juice is put in a big pot called Bhann. The Bhann serves as a closed boiler. It is connected to a smaller pot called Launni by means of a conduit. The Launni serves as a receiver or collector.
The juice in the big pot is then boiled by burning firewood under it. As the process of vaporisation and distillation goes on and the concentrated liquid collects in the smaller pot, the pressure in the receiver is kept in check by pouring cold water on it, typically with a wooden ladle. The first stage of processing may be done on big fire but the later stage of distillation has to be done on slow fire to keep the pressure and heat under control. The process of distilling fenny with such apparatus takes about 8 hours and is locally called Bhatti.
One can tell from a distance that fenny is being distilled since the surrounding area is filled with its aroma.
The liquor produced from cashew is of three grades: Urrac, Cazulo and Feni. The Urrac is the product of first distillation. It is light and can be consumed neat. Its strength ranges between 14 and 16 grao. However, when consumed in excess, Urrac intoxicates the mind like any other hard liquor. The Urrac is said to go well with orange or lemon.
The Cazulo is the product of second distillation. It is moderately strong. The Cazulo can be consumed either neat or in a diluted form depending upon the lining and resistance of one’s alimentary tract. However it is not seen in the market today.
The product, which we get after the process of third distillation is called fenny. Its strength ranges between 20 and 24 grao. It has a long shelf life. Now that the Cazulo is not made, fenny is produced after second distillation itself. The second or third-hand fenny is a product par excellence.
Content
High-grade fenny is 42% alcohol by volume. There are known to exist around 4,000 such traditional mini-distilleries or stills in Goa that manufacture cashew fenny and about 2,200 manufacturing coconut fenny. About 75% of stills making cashew fenny are in north Goa and the rest are in south Goa. As far as the stills making coconut fenny are concerned, south Goa has about 65% of them and the rest are in north Goa. This is an indication that north Goa abounds in cashew trees while south Goa has more coconut trees.
Fenny is often used in cocktails. Three common mixers are Coca cola, tonic water and lemonade, but it can also be enjoyed on its own (smell and taste is similar to thinner), on the rocks, or with a slice of lime.
Related facts
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- Fenny is classified as a 'country liquor', and therefore not sold outside the State of Goa.citation needed
- About 0.88 million bottled litres (BL) of cashew Feni were brewed in 2004-05.citation needed
- The bulk of the fenny produced is sold unlabeled to retailers and home consumers. Some of it is also purchased by bottlers, who have developed their own brands.citation needed
- In Goa, the sub-district (taluka) of Sattari is the 'Fenny capital' of the region. It tops in the number of cashew stills and also the area under cashew, according to the Baseline Survey of the Feni Industry (by Pranab Mukhopadhyay, Santosh Maurya and Suryabhan Mourya, Goa, April 2008).citation needed
- One of the most well-known brands of fenny is Superking.citation needed
External links
See also: List of Indian drinks
