On the most amazing beaches of Goa, you will feel thirsty for some wonder drink. Here, the first name you will get from everyone is Feni-Goa, Goa’s traditional drink. But the question is how to drink feni and how to prepare a proper mixture for enjoying it. Without proper guidance and instruction, you will waste your money, time, and taste. This is detailed, instructive guidance about properly drinking feni.
What is Feni, Goa’s traditional spirit?
Feni is an alcoholic liquor distilled from cashews, apples, and coconuts by a natural distillation process without adding yeast or flavor. The alcohol content in cashew feni usually remains within 43–45%. Coconut feni contains 26-28% alcohol by volume after distillation.
For the local people, feni is an emotion, not just a drink. It has been part of their lives and traditions for centuries. Their religious ceremonies, marriages, and daily gatherings are totally incomplete without feni. The question is how to drink feni in a spiritual and traditional way. Proper etiquette is how to enjoy the full moon on the Goa beach.
Origins and history of Feni in Goa
About 400 years ago, when portages occupied the southern coast of India, which is famous for cashew apple production, the people of Goa started distilling this ripened fruit in Goa under the influence of these foreigners. It is often considered the start of feni by many historians, but actually, feni was distilled for the first time 800 years ago in Goa from coconut. These were portages that promoted and influenced the cashew apple feni in Goa.
Types of Feni
There are two most popular types of feni in Goa.
Cashew feni-kaju feni
Cashew apple juice has been extracted manually and distilled three times in a special place.
Coconut feni
palm tree flowers are collected from the garden. The juice of these flowers is extracted manually by simple local instruments. This juice is processed further to achieve a high-quality coconut, Feni.
How to drink Feni ?
Choose the right, reputed Feni brand
To enjoy every sip of feni, it is crucial to choose the right and well-reputed feni brand. Check out the seal of the bottle, expiration date, and smell. After choosing the right Feni brand, you have to store it at room temperature in the dark to maintain its original taste and quality.
Using the right glass for drinking feni is also important for enjoying unmatchable feni; usually, a tulip-shaped glass, stemmed glass, or wide bowl is used for ultimate enjoyment.
How to drink feni with water
- Branded Feni
- Cold Water
- Add 60 ml of cashew feni in a glass.
Add 100–120 ml of pure water to the glass. Mix it with the stirrer to get the best aroma.Usually, for a healthy taste and experience, you must add 33% of feni and 66% of water to a glass. It always means one unit of feni and two units of water.
How to drink Cashew feni (kaju feni)
Cashew feni with Soda
- Branded Cashew Feni
- Soda Water
- Lime slice
- Ice cubes
Half-fill a glass with ice cubes. Add 60 ml of feni and 100 ml of soda water. Add 3 to 4 drops of lemon juice from the lemon slice.
Cashew Feni Sour
- Cashew Feni
- Sugar
- Lemon juice
- Ice cubes
Pick up a glass and put 33%, or 1/3, of lemon juice in it with a spoonful of sugar syrup. After this, it adds up to 66%, or 2/3 of feni. Mix it properly with a stirrer. Before serving, add a few ice cubes to it.
How to drink coconut feni
Feni Cola
- Coconut feni
- Thumps up
- Ice cubes
- Highball glass
For preparing a feni cola, take a highball glass with ice cubes. Add coconut feni to 1/3 of the glass, then 2/3 of the thumps up in the glass. Mix it gently with a stirrer for 90 seconds.
Feni with fruit juice
- Coconut feni
- Orange juice
- Pineapple juice
- Ice cubes
- Sugar syrup
- Highball glass
Take ice cubes into a glass, and after this, add an equal amount of orange juice, pineapple juice, and coconut feni. After this, add a half spoon of sugar syrup to the glass. Mix it for 50 seconds.
Alcohol Content and Effects of Feni
Feni is a strong alcoholic drink that has 43 to 45% alcohol by volume, which is more than any beer or wine brand in India. Drinking too much feni has not only moral impacts but also financial ones. It can damage your kidneys and cause impaired judgment. Excessive usage has a direct impact on skin, body weight, and tolerance.
