Tongba

Tongba is a millet based alcoholic beverage found in the mountainous region of Nepal and the neighbouring Darjeeling district of India. Tongba is prepared by cooking and fermenting whole grain millet. The millet is then dried; traditionally it is stored under a roof 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.

Tongba is the traditional and indigenous drink of the Limbu people of eastern Nepal. To the Limbu, Tongba is analogous to what Vodka is to Russians, Wine to French, Guiness to Irish and Saké to Japanese.