Judima Traditional Rice Wine of Dimasas from Assam
- Have you ever savored the rice wine that functions both as a symbol of culture and an elixir of medicine?
- Could you picture yourself observing Judima ferment under the Dimasa village night’s warm light?
Dimasa Traditional Wedding: Role of Judima
Witnessing community-driven Dimasa weddings of greatly respected tradition was a delight. The ceremony begins with a welcome and blessing from relatives. I found the groom wearing Rigu, Rijhamphai Beren and Rikausa of vibrant colors with heavy woven patterns. The guests were offered traditional Dimasa food and of course Judima-it's not just a beverage; it represents joy, prosperity and unity.
It was a winter wedding and what could be more better than toasting with a traditional drink? Sipping traditional rice wine Judima made the celebration all the more authentic.
The infusion of herbs and the unique cultural practice behind it bring Judima rice wine to the top. So it is a perfect cozy winter meal to enjoy with fried pork and bamboo shoots.
Judima: The Best Homemade Rice Wine in Assam
As and when I manage to find time from my hectic life I go off to the Assam villages to savor their culture and taste. The best part of it is that I try the local cuisine and take a sip of different rice beers that are prepared by different tribes in Assam. That is a thoroughly boozy tour through Assamese culture. Xaj, Jou, Apong, Judima or Sujen are all rice wines made by various tribes with slight variations in names. Taste-wise Judima is the winner: the best buddy to relish on a cold winter night.
Haflong: A Beautiful Lone Hill in Assam
Haflong, being the sole hill station of Assam, is gifted with rich greenery and abundant flora and fauna. This heavenly paradise somehow is proof of the beautiful nature since many tribes with various cultures live together with each other. Naturally, on top of that the charming traditional rice wine Judima prepared by the beautiful ladies belonging to the Dimasa tribe makes Haflong special.
While Nashik is India’s official wine capital with lush vineyards and wineries, Haflong possesses the heart of fermented rice wine. The Dimasa women here craft Judima with unmatched skill surrounded by misty mountains and towering trees. They ferment every drop of Judima with patience and love producing a wine unlike any other.
The Origin of Homemade Rice Wine
The Unexpected Discovery of Judima
Ever curious about how a farmer's observation gave birth to one of Assam's most classic favorite wines Judima?
My trip to Dilbari village was the liveliest and the most memorable phase of my trip. The instant I was in the Dimasa village of Dibarai I was welcomed by the fragrant aroma of rice beer that wafted from wooden huts. The villagers' warmth of gaze soon made me feel at home. Interacting with the villagers I got to hear the tale from the elders of the Dimasa tribe about how they initially began producing Judima wine.
The tale begins with a farmer who practiced Jhum cultivation in his field to support his family. As the story goes, one fateful day the farmer swung a pack of cooked rice wrapped in a banana leaf upon a branch of a tree hanging it from there with a bamboo pole. When midday came he took a look at it and to his surprise it had grown stale. But the water dripping from it tasted different and it was slightly intoxicating.
He discovered later that the bark of the tree was used to prepare a truly fantastic drink from the cooked rice. And it was here with this fantastic idea that Judima came into being. This specific drink, over time became the symbol of the Dimasa tribe.
The Magic of Acacia Pennata Plant
This is the interesting part: the tree where the farmer used to hang his food was not an ordinary tree. It was Acacia pennata—an Ayurveda-revered medicinal plant familiar to those who practice Ayurveda. To most of you, Acacia pennata is the most famous medication for asthma, bronchitis and stomach complaints, etc. Indeed, Judima is not merely a mood enhancer; it is an age-old panacea for medicinal purposes.
KOUROSITY OBSERVATION
I observed that Jhum cultivation is practiced mostly in the hills of Dima Hasao, where the field is burned before planting crops.
How to Make Homemade Rice Wine—Judima
I had the rare opportunity to witness the live process of making Judima—and of course to taste it. Seeing the stored wine bottled made me think Judima embodies the saying, 'Old wine is better than new friends.' The longer it ages the better it tastes. I truly feel Dimasa women are true multitaskers; they manage their homes and alongside, the fermentation process with great care to produce the finest wine in the region.
I came across Mrs. Kemprai in the Dibarai village, a soft Dimasa woman in her late 60s, who had been brewing Judima for decades. She was the one who shared with me the whole process of producing Judima.
Rituals behind Homemade Judima Wine Brewing
The family informed me that the first ritual they perform before starting the process is to worship Lord Shiva. Moreover, at the place where the mixture is kept no sour fruits are chopped or eaten. The art of brewing of course starts from the day of the full moon when they offer prayers to the spirits for blessings.
Ingredients needed to make Judima
- Rice—Mai-sha (white rice), Mai-zu (red sticky rice) or Bairing rice grain
- Thembra bark—Dried bark from the Acacia pennata plant
- Aromatic leaves—It is plucked from Buddleja asiatica and Hedyotis scandens plant.
Making of Starter Cakes for Judima Brewing
- Mr. Kemprai assisted his wife in preparing the mixture, blending aromatic leaves with crushed Thembra bark.
- They then pounded it with rice powder to create a smooth paste.
- The starter cakes called Humao are created from the paste.
- The starter cakes are kept to dry for three to five days on a bamboo tray.
Fermentation Process: Crafting Judima
Mrs. Kemprai smiled as she crumbled the starter cakes and said, 'Judima takes its own sweet time, like life.' We then have to practice patience and wait for the ideal time.
- Dhiraj helped Mr. Kemprai bring a large vessel called Hundi for steaming the red sticky rice.
- His wife carefully crumbled and combined the fermented starter cakes with the rice.
- She then sealed the mixture using a banana leaf.
This, Mrs. Kemprai told me, was now the time for the yeast to ferment the rice and enhance the ideal flavor of Judima. She said it takes a day time for the smell to emanate during summer and the liquid to ooze out of the body. And it takes exactly 10 days to ferment and you can take the drink out and store it in the bottle.
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Drinking Judima from Bamboo Glasses
The family was so nice; they served us traditional red sticky rice alongside fish fry on a banana leaf. Mr. Kemprai gave us each a glass of Judima, traditional rice wine drawn from the bottle where it’s kept.
The most memorable drinking accouterments are still the bamboo glasses with which we drank the wine. He poured the wine from a small jug, Lao Thai, made of dried gourds. Judima is golden, slightly hulled and mildly sweet-sour on its own. Once this fermented wine entered me, I felt planted comfortably in my body.
Dhiraj had gifted me a bottle of traditional rice wine Judima and this was the greatest souvenir of the trip. So nicely packed I thought to keep it as mementos in my home.
KOUROSITY FINDINGS
Well, it's like I have hit a jackpot because I found that Judima has not one but two exquisite tastes. The first is the immature Judima—it's like a carnival of tangy fruit juice tasting in my mouth. The other aged Judima has a very sweet taste like honey.
Judima Wine Festival—A Homemade Wine Fest
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| Judima Festival showcasing traditional Dimasa culture |
Get ready to be mesmerized as I have got the insider scoops on the incredible Judima Wine Festival that takes off in Haflong the only hill station of Assam. I now came to know from my friend that the festival has significant cultural importance for the Dimasa people carrying on their ancestral traditions. Judima is no ordinary drink, it walks into every ritual that is to be performed—a mourning ceremony or parties.
Experience Dimasa Traditions at the Festival
I was pleased to find out that the Judima Festival began in 2016. I could simply imagine a few energetic Dimasa youths along with the Mahila Samiti coming together and thinking of promoting Dimasa cultural activities and boosting tourism. With a bang the Judima Festival was born.
That initiative attracted many visitors who immersed themselves in an authentic Dimasa experience. They enjoy local flavors, Dimasa fabri,cs and mesmerizing traditional dances, songs and sports. It made each visitor feel drenched in Dimasa culture.
Geographical Indication Tag to Assam's Traditional Rice Wine Judima
Judima was the very first indigenous beverage of Northeast India to be granted a GI (Geographical Indication) mark. It is a homemade traditional wine that is made by local Dimasa community people in Assam. With the GI bestowed upon Judima in 2021, it earned Assam a huge reputation and prestige. The Dimasa tribe put so much time and effort into ensuring that they can keep the product authentic and in the process protect their heritage.
Judima Crafting: A Path to Women Empowerment
I had a long impression regarding how the Dimasa community took the initiative to market themselves and their fermented rice wine Judima to all parts of the globe. Commercialization of the wine has given the Dimasa women a sustainable means of livelihood and enhanced their standard of living. Now this Assamese beverage has a prospered market and people also enjoy it. While it is already available for purchase even on today's mode of online platforms.
Where & How to Experience Judima in Assam
Judima is an Assamese traditional rice wine that is best enjoyed at Haflong in the Dima Haso district. Some ways to treat yourself to the real Judima experience:
Judima Wine Festival
A Festival celebrating the Dimasa Culture
Judima Wine Festival is held annually in mid-December for three days. Here you will get some of the finest brewed Judima rice wine from Dimasa women.
Purchasing Judima from Wine Shops in Haflong
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| Judima Rice Wine bottle brewed by Dimasa women |
If you want to have traditional wine, you can also buy Judima from wine shops in the town of Haflong. A 750 ml bottle of Judima made by Dimasa women costs approximately ₹800.
Exploring Dimasa Village Homestays
As I got a chance to experience how Judima is produced you too can watch the live production process, staying in Dimasa village homestays. This fantastic experience will send shivers down your spine watching the age-old fermentation process with warm and friendly locals. Also during your stay you can enjoy traditional Dimasa meals like fermented fish, smoked meat, chicken cooked with rice flour and eggplant chutney.
If you sip Judima in Haflong, be among the Dimasa women, hear their tales and see the magic before your eyes. That’s where the true nature of this drink lies.
Journey of each Bottle of Judima
My stay in the village taught me something. Each bottle of Judima reflects the labor that has gone into presenting the rich Dimasa cultural heritage We can never forget how the Judima Festival welcomes visitors from around the globe to be a part of it. It proves the Dimasas can grow and move forward while preserving their old ways alive.
A Sip of Traditional Dimasa Wine
So for a sip of classical and traditional wine that would make you feel centuries back just pack your bags and head to Haflong which is popularly known as “Scotland of the East”. Yes, there you can drink traditional rice wine that is native to the Dimasa tribe.
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