Handia (Also handi or hadiya) is a
rice beer originating from the
Indian subcontinent, popular in the
Indian states of
Jharkhand,
Bihar,
Odisha,
Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh (, ) is a landlocked state in Central India. It is the ninth largest state by area, and with a population of roughly 30 million, the seventeenth most populous. It borders seven states – Uttar Pradesh to the north, Madhya Prade ...
and
West Bengal.
Etmology
''Handia'' comes from hindi word ''Handi'' means ''earthen pot'' where it was traditionally prepared.
History
Evidence of Fermentation and Alcoholic beverages found in
Indus valley civilization
The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), also known as the Indus Civilisation was a Bronze Age civilisation in the northwestern regions of South Asia, lasting from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, and in its mature form 2600 BCE to 1900&n ...
during Chalcolithic Period from 3000 BC to 2000 BC in India.
In Ancient India, the
Vedas mention a beer-like drink called
''sura''.
It was the favourite of the god
Indra
Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes/ref> I ...
.
has mentioned two intoxicating beverages made from rice called ''Medaka'' and ''Prasanna''.
, the Greek Ambassador to Maurya Emperor
Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya (350-295 BCE) was a ruler in Ancient India who expanded a geographically-extensive kingdom based in Magadha and founded the Maurya dynasty. He reigned from 320 BCE to 298 BCE. The Maurya kingdom expanded to become an empi ...
mentioned about rice beer in his book
Indica where he mention Indian make wine from rice instead of barley. He mentioned Indian never drink rice wine except during sacrifice.
Preparation
The making involves the use of ''ranu tablets'', which is essentially a combination of about 20-25 herbs and acts as a
fermentor. These ranu tablets help in the preparation of many other
beverages as well. The ''ranu tablets'' are then mixed with boiled rice and left to ferment in earthen pots. The drink is generally ready within a week. It is served cool and has lower alcoholic strength than other
Indian country liquors.
[
Earlier it was only used in marriage function and feast but now it commercialised as people started selling in daily due to economic reasons.]
See also
*Rice wine
Rice wine is an alcoholic beverage fermented and distilled from rice, traditionally consumed in East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia. Rice wine is made by the fermentation of rice starch that has been converted to sugars. Microbes are the so ...
* List of Indian drinks
* Related beverages
* Amazake
* Nigori
* Chhaang
* Mahuli
References
Further reading
*
External links
{{Indian beverages
Fermented drinks
Indian alcoholic drinks
Bihari cuisine
Odia cuisine
Jharkhandi cuisine
Types of beer
Traditional Indian alcoholic beverages
Nagpuri culture