A REVIEW ON HANDIA- A TRADITIONAL DRINK OF TRIBALS

Abstract

Handia is a popular and fashionable drink among the inhabitants of tribal communities of India specially Eastern and North-eastern regions of India. It influences their social, cultural, economic life. Handia is prepared in almost every one-third houses of those regions. Various herbs collected from local forests are used to prepare “Ranu” or “Bakhar” tablets which are starter cultures for making the rice beer. De-husked, un-cleaned rice is boiled in water and then the cooked rice is fermented with required amount of Bakhar or Ranu tablets in earthen pots for a specific period of time. Handia is consumed by tribals as energy drink. It is used by tribals for both consumption and business purpose. People from other castes also consume it for intoxication. So, now-a-days handia is being prepared commercially by tribals. Handia contains higher percentage of alcohol compared to beer or wines. Various researches have exposed the possible therapeutic benefits of Handia.