Feni Drink of Goa is one of the most popular Indian alcoholic beverages. It is so popular with beach vacationers that trips to Goa are incomplete without sips of Feni drink on the beaches of Goa. This award-winning country liquor is traveling from the beaches of Goa to the America shores. Yes, the Goan Feni will soon be available on beaches of the United States for the first time. Wirtz Beverage Illinois is taking Feni drink of Goa to beach holidaymakers in the US.

How did Feni make its way into the Goan life and culture? Indian Eagle shares some interesting facts about Feni drink of Goa to make you understand it:

Goan Feni is the best of all types of Feni. It is one of the things that Goa, a former Portuguese colony, owes to the Portuguese. Goa has been producing Feni for over 400 years in a typical Portuguese way that does not entail the use of electricity in the process. The process of making Goan Feni is a tedious one involving lots of effort. Goa has almost 4000 distillers who manufacture 70% of Feni drink for home consumption and the rest for markets.

Even the Feni distillation process is repeated three times. The juice obtained at the first phase of the distillation process is called Urrack. It is neither pungent nor aromatic. Urrak is further distilled into what is known as Cazulo. Cazulo has some intoxicating properties which become stronger in the final produce, Feni. The Goan Feni has long shelf life. It can be taken in mix with soda, cola and lemon juice.

What is unique to Feni of Goa is its distinct smell. Quality and purity of Feni are often evaluated by intensity of aroma. The aroma of Goan Feni drink is so strong that it can be smelt at a distance from the place of distillation.  If taken neat, Feni can be too intoxicating to stay conscious.

The word ‘Feni’ has evolved from ‘Phena’, a Sanskrit word, meaning froth. Coconut Feni and Cashew Feni are two popular types of Feni in Goa. It is said that Coconut Feni is older than Cashew Feni in production. Coconut Feni is an Indian type of Feni drink in essence simply because coconut palms are abundantly cultivated in Goa and other coastal regions of India, whereas Cashew version of Goan Feni is an exotic type since cashew tree was introduced to India by the Portuguese colonists.

Cashew Feni drink is produced in a very natural way though convoluted. The place where cashew apples are manually crushed is a hilltop rock shaped like a basin. Juice from crushed cashew apples flows out of the basin to a clay pot which is then buried deep under the ground for fermentation. Only 4% of the fermented juice becomes alcohol. Copper pots are used for distillation of the juice, which is then heated.

Coconut Feni drink is more popular in South Goa than in North Goa. Toddies from coconut palms are traditionally fermented to distill coconut Feni. Toddy Tapping is the process of extracting juice from palm tree flowers. Toddy Tapping has been practiced in Southeast Asia countries for centuries. The juice is collected in earthen pots tied around palm buds which grow from the base of coconut leaves.

How to drink Feni in Goa? Drinking Goan Feni out of coconut shells is a natural way. Shops on the beaches of Goa serve Feni drink in coconut shells. Cashew Feni drink got the Geographical Indication (GI) certificate in 2009. With the GI status, which confirms the geographical origin of the drink, Goan Feni has become an exotic drink brand of international repute from local liquor. Cashew Feni drink of Goa is best compared to Mexican Tequila and French champagne.

Drinking Feni is one of the things to do in Goa. According to locals, Feni drink of Goa has health benefits too. Many Goans prefer shots of Feni to over-the-counter medicines for cough and cold. Feni warms up the body and cleanses the respiratory system more effectively than cough syrups. Goan Feni is a completely organic drink without preservative or artificial flavor.

Feni is unique to the traditional food culture of Goa. It is best enjoyed with Goan seafood dishes. Fried fish and Feni drink make a perfect entertainment for food-loving travelers in Goa. If you have not been to Goa yet, and are wondering what’s in Goa, go through a traveler’s story of what’s not in Goa.

You have to wait for Goan Feni until it reaches your favorite beaches in the US. Or else pack your bag and book the cheapest flight to Goa on IndianEagle.com. We issue the cheapest air tickets from USA to India.

The post Interesting Facts: How Feni Drink of Goa Became a Favorite of Tourists appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Let’s turn away from monuments and hill stations to the direction leading to the secluded islands and serene beaches. When the mind craves for seclusion and serenity, it can think of only the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Andaman Islands and beaches are among the most wonderful holiday destinations with idyllic setting, rich wildlife, white sands, crystal-blue water and eco-friendly atmosphere. An escape to the Andaman for shareable travel experience and inexplicable tryst with nature is worth a flight to India. Let’s see whose travel tastes are best catered to by the Andaman.

A trip to the Andaman is must for those in quest of serenity, beauty, romance and bliss far from the buzz of city life. If you are among them, you must fly to the Andaman beaches which are away from civilization but close to nature. You will feel overwhelmed in the solitude of Radhanagar Beach, Cove Beach, Vijayanagar Beach, and Elephant Beach where waves are in love with sands, the sun hangs out on the horizon twice a day, the mind feels meditative, the heart listens to itself, peace is eloquent, sea speaks to the sky, and where sunbath is a pleasure. The Andaman beaches which are accessible to visitors are known for their tranquilizing effect on the outer being and inner self of visitors.

A flight to the Andaman Islands is the right spending by those in love with nature and wildlife photography. Every nook and corner of this part of earth is blessed with wildlife. Barren Island, one of the uninhabited Andaman Islands, is home to rich flora and fauna. Rare species of animals and plants are found here. Barren Island also houses an active volcano which is the only one in South Asia. 135 km away from Port Blair, the volcano is an ideal landscape for nature photography. Baratang Island is another island whose wilderness woos photographers. Dense tropical forests and white sandy beaches are the attractions of the island. You must photograph the limestone caves on Baratang Island to bask in the pleasure of photography.

A tour of the Andaman Islands is highly recommended to those in quest of adrenalin rush. The Andaman beaches are as adventuresome as they are peaceful. Some of the islands have sporty beaches where you can’t help springing into adventure. The Havelock Island is a hub of adventure sports including kayaking, trekking, snorkeling, scuba diving and sailing. If swimming makes you feel alive and kicking, Vijaynagar Beach with calm, crystal clear water is the call for you. If strolling on the sand thrills you, it is not less exciting than adventure itself. Island camping is another sort of adventure that you must try out during the Andaman travel.

Travel to the Andaman Islands is a must for those in search of the trail to the stories of British oppression during the National Freedom Movement. The Cellular Jail is a living evidence of the confinement of the Indian freedom fighters in the dark and the atrocity meted out to them. Some of the patriots directly or indirectly associated with the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 were exiled to suffer solitary confinement in the Cellular Jail which is notorious as Kaala Pani. Among the political prisoners who were sentenced to the Cellular Jail were such eminent freedom fighters as Veer Savarkar, Batukeshwar Dutt, Shiv Verma, Mahavir Singh, Ambika Chakraborty, Genesh Ghosh, and Fakir Sen who were associated with the Chittagong Revolt, the Assembly Bomb Case, the Lahore Conspiracy Case, the Alipore Conspiracy Case and the Wahabi Movement. The Government of India declared the Cellular Jail as a national memorial in 1969. A light and sound show is organized on the premises to introduce the visitors to the sufferings of the prisoners.

Port Blair is the gateway to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which is a short flight from Chennai International Airport. IndianEagle.com offers international flight tickets to Chennai, India, at the best prices.

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Many Indian Americans have already circled the dates of important festivals and business events on the calendar to fly to India on, in 2014. Indian Eagle got in touch with some of them in the USA and Canada to know their New Year wishlists of travel in India. Karthik Naidu, one of our NRI customers in Miami, shares his wishlist with us.

Shopping for pearls in Hyderabad

Hyderabad is popularly nicknamed the “City of Pearls” in India and abroad. If Biriyani is a must taste, pearl is a must buy in the capital of the bygone Sultani era. Pearl is an integral part of the semi-precious jewellery that steals the show with travelers in the city. The Hyderabadi pearl is the purest find in the whole country. “I can’t afford to miss buying a pair of pearl earrings or pearl bangles in the City of Nawabs.”

Playing Holi in Shantiniketan

The Holi Festival is a colorful extravaganza celebrated with unlimited fun and frenzy the country over. Holi festival celebration is a distinct cultural statement in Shantiniketan, home to Visva Bharati University that the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore had established in West Bengal. Girls dressed in yellow saris with green border, and boys dressed in yellow or white kurtas celebrate the festival of colors through folk music (mainly Rabindrasangeet, the songs composed by the Bard of Bengal) and dance. Mr. Naidu wishes to make Holi 2014 in India an experience to be cherished forever.

Having parathas & lassi in Amritsar

“Relishing the flavors of Punjab through bites of delectable parathas and sips of lip-smacking lassi in Amritsar is on my India travel wishlist 2014,” shares Mr. Naidu uninhibitedly. The mouthwatering taste of makki di roti (flat breads made from popcorn flour), aloo parathas (pan-fried flat breads stuffed with spiced potato mash), and lassi with cream (a curd special drink) makes travel to Amritsar a foodie’s delight.

Traveling by train in Konkan Region

The Konkan Railway is the lifeline of travel and transport in Konkan Region spreading over Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra states in India. The Konkan is a coastal stretch of land with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Sahyadri Hills to the east. The railway track, an engineering excellence in the face of geographical odds, runs through rolling valleys and soaring mountains of the region. A train journey in the Konkan region is like a flight to the Paradise. “Traveling on the Konkan Railway is a long-cherished wish of mine on the list of things to do in India.”

Listening to the Rajput stories in Rajasthan

“Since childhood I have been wishing to leaf through the history of Rajputs in Rajasthan. I am looking to fulfill this wish of mine in 2014,” says Mr. Naidu to Indian Eagle. Dotted with historic forts and palaces, the state of Rajasthan is a book of stories related to the Rajput kings of Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Mewar, Amer, Bikaner and Chittorgarh. The history of Rajasthan is a compilation of Rajput stories of bravery and chivalry, royalty and gallantry.

Strolling on the beaches of the Andamans

The Andaman and Nicobar, an archipelago of islands with pristine beaches, coral reefs, dense rainforests and mirror like waters, is the best of all seaside destinations in India. To be precise, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a paradise of natural beauty in the Bay of Bengal. Unlike the crowded beaches of India, the beaches of the Andamans retain purity and virginity. Of the things to do in the Andamans, strolling on the beaches in the solitude of peace during sunrise and sunset is a soulful delight. “I want to feel the warmth of sands and waters beneath my feet in the Andamans,” expresses Mr. Naidu eloquently.

Visiting the temples of Tamil Nadu

The history of Tamil Nadu ranging from the royal era to the Sultani age to the British period is treasured in the temples of the state. Dotted with temples of different times across Madurai, Mahabalipuram, Kanchi, Tanjore, Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu is righty nicknamed the state of temples in India. Built in such different empires as the Chola, the Chera, the Pallav, the Pandya and the Vijaynagar, the Shore Temple, the Meenakshi Temple, and the Brihadishwara Temple are a few eminent names. “I wish to visit the temples of Tamil Nadu and write a travelogue based on it,” Mr. Naidu brims with delight.

Exploring the Himalayan region of Leh

Leh is the largest town in Ladakh, a Himalayan region of mystic wonders including flora and fauna, folk music and dance, fairs and festivals in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh is the highest plateau in this northernmost state of India, spanning from the Karakoram Range of mountains to the Himalayas. The Pangong Lake in the solitude of snow is a beautiful manifestation of nature in Leh. Another attraction of this place at the altitude of around 6,000 meters is the Ladakh Festival. “The thrill of exploring the unexplored always fascinates me. Therefore, my travel wishlist 2014 includes a visit to Leh in India,” says Mr. Naidu with exuberance.

Wandering in the tea estates of Assam

“I have watched the videos of a few Bollywood songs filmed in the sprawling tea estates and gardens of Assam at the Himalayan foothills in east India. Hope, 2014 will come with an opportunity for me to take a tea tour of Assam,” Mr. Naidu bares his mind to Indian Eagle. With most of the tea estates and gardens in the Brahmaputra Valley, Assam is the largest producer of tea in India. The flavor of Assam tea has traveled far away outside of India.

Booking the cheapest flight to India

“My New Year travel wishlist will meet with reality if IndianEagle.com offers me the lowest airfare to India. Booking the cheapest flight for my India tour is the first wish of mine that Indian Eagle fulfills every year. I am looking forward to having the same favor in 2014 too.”

We wish all the best to Karthik Naidu and our other NRI customers for their New Year travel wishlists.

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