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With its modest appearance that paints a relatively harmless picture, it is easy to underestimate the potency of this alcoholic beverage characteristic of the true blue Goan experience — the not-so-humble feni. Feni is a traditional Goan liquor made from cashews or coconut sap. Out of the many remnants of Portuguese colonisation the cashew apple is perhaps the most lucratively used commodity in Goa. Brewed from these cashew apples is a heady, fruity alcoholic beverage that is loved by the state’s local population. In fact, it was named the ‘Heritage Liquor’ of the state of Goa in 2016 by then Chief Minister Laxmikant Parekar for its diverse medicinal, culinary, and cultural uses. Feni also has a geographical indicator, which means that it can be produced only within the state of Goa. Don’t let the fruity nature of this liquor allude you of its potency, unlike other spirits which are distilled with water at some point in the process, Feni reaches its strength of 42.8% without being diluted in any form.
To enhance your experience, Saeesh, a Goan local, hosts ferry trips to the Island of Divar, a few minutes from Old Goa. The ride takes you to a farm, where you are shown a variety of flavours and ways to drink feni, from contemporary cocktails to more traditional ones. The trip has stellar reviews on Airbnb, and people especially seem to like the snacks and Goan chicken they’re provided to go with the drinks.
One of the reviewers wished to go beyond the stereotypical activities of going to beaches and clubbing, and instead wanted something more local and cultural. Hence, he decided to try the Fenny ride. “Saeesh took us to a local’s farm on Diwar Island and got us to try three locally made drinks. Best part was to pick your own chilli from the farm for the cocktail. Sitting under the tree in the middle of the farm, eating village style home made chicken and sipping the local drinks, made us forget everything else, maybe we were Goans for a couple of hours. Saeesh is a perfect host. He shared a lot about his life in Goa and his knowledge of Fenny. He even went as far to take us to a must visit place nearby. Thanks Saeesh, we are definitely coming back,” reads his review.
To sum it up, this seems like a quintessential Goan experience you must try.
To book an experience, which is about Rs 1099 per person, check out the Airbnb page.
Feature Image Courtesy: Startup Talks (L) and V Resorts (R)
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