Facts About Tongba
Tongba is a millet-based alcoholic beverage found in the eastern mountainous region of Nepal and the neighbouring Darjeeling and Sikkim. It is the traditional and indigenous drink of the Limbu people of eastern Nepal. Tongba is culturally and religiously important to the Limbu people of eastern Nepal. Taplejung is the ultimate destination for drinking Tongba. Offering Tongba is a symbol of respect to a guest among the Limbu people and also an important drink for special occasions and festivals.
Preparation
Tongba actually is the vessel which holds the fermented millet beverage known as mandokpenaa thee. Mandokpenaa thee is prepared by cooking and fermenting whole grain millet. The cooked millet is cooled and mixed with khesung (which is a source of molds, bacteria and yeast). Then the mass is collected and placed in a woven bamboo basket lined with green leaves or plastic, covered with thick fold of cloth and allowed to remain in a warm place for 1–2 days depending upon the temperature. The sweet mass is then packed tightly into an earthenware pot or plastic jars and the opening is usually sealed off to prevent air from entering. After 7–15 days also depending upon the temperature, the fermentation is complete and the mass is converted to mandokpenaa thee.
The time mandokpenaa thee is left to remain undisturbed in the pot after completion of fermentation leads to maturing of the mandokpenaa thee. During the maturing the flavours and taste intensifies yet become more mellowed. Traditionally, it is stored for about six months.
It is consumed in a unique way: the fermented millet is put in a container, also traditionally called a Tongba, and boiled water is poured in it to the brim. It is then left undisturbed for about five minutes. Once the five minutes has passed it is ready to drink. A fine bamboo straw with a blind end, but perforated on the side to act as a filter, is inserted into the container to suck out the warm water and alcohol from the millet grains. More hot water is added as the tongba becomes dry, and the process is repeated until the alcohol is exhausted.
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