Fermented Alcoholic Beverages of North-East India-A Review

Abstract

Fermented alcoholic beverages of different forms have been reported to be consumed by the tribal people of North-East India since time immemorial The North-east India, comprising of the seven states Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya,Tripura, Nagaland and Sikkim has approximately 225 tribes residing in this region with distinct cultural entities and rich traditional knowledge.These fermented beverages are known to have many health benefits due to the ethno medicinal properties of the plants used in starter preparation. This paper reviews the methods of preparation, micro flora, and neutraceutical properties of the alcoholic beverages prepared by the different tribal communities of NE India. Most of these beverages are confined to specific communities belonging to some specific regions.