Aylā (

Nepal Bhasa Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan languages, Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surro ...

: अयला:) is a Newari beverage prepared by distillation of fermented ingredients such as rice, grains and millet. Apart from casual drinking, Aila is an important part of festivals in

Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...

. This liquor is usually homemade and prepared by traditional methods. Its preparation is not yet commercial in

, however it is sold in restaurant that serve

Newa cuisine Newa cuisine (also referred to as ''Newar'' cuisine) is a subset of Nepalese cuisine that has developed over centuries among the Newars of Kathmandu (Kathmandu is called ''Yen'' in Nepal Bhasa) in Nepal. Newa cuisine is the most celebrated food var ...

. It can be bought in local Newari restaurants .

CNN CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by the M ...

has noted it as being one of the "50 most delicious drinks in the world".

Preparation

Aila is usually prepared by Newari people before any festival or socio-cultural event. Rice along with many other ingredients is mixed with ''Marcha'', a local organic

fermenting Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food ...

compound, and fermented at least four to five days to ensure the preparation of a good quality Aila.

Millet Millets () are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. Most species generally referred to as millets belong to the tribe Paniceae, but some millets al ...

is used instead of rice for an even stronger flavor. The final product is obtained after

distillation Distillation, or classical distillation, is the process of separation process, separating the components or substances from a liquid mixture by using selective boiling and condensation, usually inside an apparatus known as a still. Dry distilla ...

. This is done by using traditional clay and copper vessel designed specifically for this purpose. The raw fermented mixture is cooked over a wood fire stove. Temperature of flame and cooling water are the two factors controlling the quality of this beverage during distillation.

Religious significance

Consumption of

alcohol Alcohol most commonly refers to: * Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom * Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks Alcohol may also refer to: Chemicals * Ethanol, one of sev ...

is not just allowed but generally encouraged in Newari culture. This is a religious practice promoted by Tantric traditions. According to the Tantric practices, foods are divided into three groups: ''mamsa'' (meat), ''matsya'' (fish) and ''madya'' (alcoholic beverages). It is believed that offering alcohol would satisfy the Tantric gods who in turn grant followers good luck. Aila is first offered to the gods before every religious festival and cultural activities, and then it is served. One such famous Newari festival is

Yenya Indra Jātrā, also known as Yenyā (Nepal Bhasa: येँयाः), is the biggest religious street festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. The celebrations consist of two events, Indra Jātrā and Kumāri Jātrā. Indra Jātrā is marked by masked danc ...

References

{{Reflist Newari cuisine Alcohol in Nepal

Preparation

Religious significance

See also

References