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Savor: ‘Tuak Manis’ “Sweet Balinese liquor”
Bali is famous for its traditional elixirs one of which is tuak manis, a sweet beverage made from palm, or coconut, sap that is starting to become popular with the local ladies
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Bali is famous for its traditional elixirs one of which is tuak manis, a sweet beverage made from palm, or coconut, sap that is starting to become popular with the local ladies.
Tuak is usually sold on a small, local scale by the farmers who make it. However, Ida Bagus Kade Dwi Darmada, a graduate student on the agribusiness master program at Udayana University, is now working to promote tuak manis as a “mainstream beverage”, like orange juice and other sweet drinks.
Recognizing its economic potential, he claims: “Tuak manis is safe for everyone. It does not contain alcohol and has good sugary content. It has 17 amino acids, which are good for our health.”
Every day, Darmada travels around Jembrana collecting tuak from the farmers, then bottles it and puts it in the freezer. He sells the product at various events, as well as delivering orders, under the tagline “Go local – tuak manis -- drink tuak without getting drunk”.
Selling the bottles for between Rp 6,000 (45 US cents) and Rp 10,000, he said his business helped increase the farmers’ incomes.
Many consumers, however, are still reluctant to buy tuak manis because of tuak’s bad reputation within Balinese society; it is a very popular drink while people are cock fighting or gambling.
Darmada is undaunted and remains certain that tuak manis will find its place in the Balinese beverage world.
