Apong: Assam’s traditional rice wine is now bottled as Ti:Po
The Mising community of Assam has launched Ti:Po, a premium bottled version of their traditional rice wine, Apong. The founders combined ancestral brewing techniques with modern filtration technology to ensure consistency and quality.
Why it matters
This initiative preserves indigenous cultural heritage while creating sustainable livelihoods for local women through modern commercialization.
Japan has sake, Korea has makgeolli. India has Ti:Po, Po:Ro Apong. The traditional rice wine of the Mising community of Assam, apong is now a premium bottled drink. Apong, also popular in Assam as sai mod (ash liquor), is prepared from rice and uses foraged herbs. Ti:Po in Mising language means a satisfactory drink.
But unlike the cloudy makgeolli and crystal clear sake, Ti:Po is close to Bourbon whiskey in appearance. With 14% alcohol content, a sip of Ti:Po is closer to sake with two distinct ending notes — sweet and smoky. The other distinct notes are fruity and nutty.
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