CHAPTER 36. BENEFITS OF LEARNING TO MAKE AYURVEDIC WINES (ARISHTAM) AT HOME

In 2014, while I was living in Coorg district of Karnataka, i saw that everyone was making wines at home using easily available fruits, grains and spices. You can see that these homemade wines are sold in restaurants, grocery stores and condiment shops. Almost every local person takes a glass or two of wine during dinner. They say, "one glass for the lady and two for the gentlemen". Infact, they offer wines to guests. This was a cultural shock for me as from where I come, wine is considered very bad.

These events kick-started my curiosity about home-made wines. And I discovered the big world of Arishtams.

Arishtam is a Vedic term that means "freedom from disease or injury".

When herbs are boiled and jaggery or honey is added, the solution starts fermenting. this generates some alcohol (self-generated alcohol). This low concentration of alcohol provides 3 main benefits - it enhances the absorption of active ingredients in the herbs from the digestive system, the arishtam can be stored for long time and Arishtams prevents and cures many diseases.

Arishtams have been described in Indian ancient vedas like Charaka Samhita & Sushruta Samhita.

We use a simple glass jar with an air-lock to prepare Ayurvedic Wines. Here is a grape wine in making.

While specific knowledge and training is essential to make herbal Arishtams, everyone can easily make fruit, grain or vegetable based Arishtams. These are also called Ayurvedic Wines. These provides several benefits for the users.

Home made wines are made using a single fruit, a single grain, a single flower, a single spice, a single type of leaf or a combination of any or all of these, as per the preference of the person. This means that there are thousands of varieties of home made wines in India.

Most of the fruits available in India are used in making wine at home. Like Grapes, cashew apples, pineapple, mango, apples, beetroot, blackberry, plums, jackfruit, banana, guava, papaya, starfruit, litchi, mulberries, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, watermelons, pomegranates, passion fruit, pears, cherries, figs, dates, apricots, peaches, kiwi, oranges, lemons, limes, tangerines, grapefruits, custard apples, sapodilla, jamun, kokum, karonda, wood apples, bael fruit, amla, rose apples, dragon fruit, cranberries, blueberries, elderberries, gooseberries, olives (technically a drupe), avocados (technically a fruit), tomatoes (technically a fruit), and tamarind.

Locally available grains are also used to make wines. Rice, particularly in regions where rice wine is traditional, is a primary grain used in Indian homes for winemaking. Wheat, though less common than rice, also sees use, especially in certain regional variations where grain-based fermented beverages are prepared.

Flowers or flower petals are also used in making wines. Rose petals, hibiscus, mahua, jasmine, marigold, rhododendron, blue pea, dandelion, elderflower, chamomile, lavender, palash (flame of the forest), screw pine, pomegranate flowers, banana flowers, neem flowers, shevanti (chrysanthemum), parijatham (night-flowering jasmine), kachnar (mountain ebony) flowers, and mogra (Arabian jasmine) are among the 20 flowers used to make wine in Indian homes.

Cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, ginger, star anise, bay leaves, mace, fennel seeds, ajwain (carom seeds), coriander seeds, cumin seeds, turmeric, dried ginger powder, long pepper, asafoetida (hing), saffron, mustard seeds, and fenugreek seeds are some of the spices used in Indian homes to make wine, with the specific selection depending on the type of wine being made and the desired flavor profile.

While fruit-based wines are more common, some Indian home winemaking traditions incorporate leaves for flavor or medicinal properties. These are not as common as fruit based wines. The leaves used are: betel leaves, curry leaves, jamun leaves, mango leaves, guava leaves, bay leaves, cinnamon leaves, hibiscus leaves, tulsi leaves, mint leaves, coriander leaves, neem leaves, wood apple leaves, pomegranate leaves, ajwain leaves, brahmi leaves, vetiver leaves, lemon leaves, orange leaves, and moringa leaves.

The recipe for winemaking is extremely simple. It needs no special equipment. Just see this video to understand and start your winemaking journey:

I have prepared a variety of Ayurvedic wines till now. And I will be continuing to explore and enjoy the unlimited possibilities of Ayurvedic Wines.

Here are some main benefits of making Ayurvedic Wines at home:

Making wine at home can be a rewarding hobby with a variety of benefits. Here's a list of 20 potential advantages:

Customization and Control:

1. Personalized Flavors: You can tailor the wine to your exact taste preferences, experimenting with different fruits, blends, and sweetness levels.

2. Ingredient Control: You have complete control over the ingredients, allowing you to choose organic fruits and avoid unwanted additives or preservatives.

3. Control of Sweetness/Dryness: You can adjust the sugar content to create wines that are as sweet or dry as you prefer.

4. Alcohol Content Control: To some degree, through the winemaking process, control of the alcohol content is possible.

Economic and Practical Benefits:

5. Cost-Effectiveness: Home winemaking is significantly cheaper than buying commercial wines, especially for regular wine drinkers.

6. Reusing Materials: You can reuse bottles and other equipment, reducing waste.

7. Always Having Wine on Hand: You'll have a personal supply of wine for personal enjoyment or for when guests come over.

Experiential and Social Benefits:

8. Hobby and Relaxation: Winemaking can be a relaxing and fulfilling hobby.

9. Educational Experience: You'll learn about the fermentation process and the science of winemaking.

10. Connection to Nature: Working with fruits and the natural fermentation process can create a connection to nature.

11. Social Sharing: Sharing your homemade wine with friends and family can be a source of pride and enjoyment.

12. Gift Giving: Homemade wine makes a unique and thoughtful gift.

13. Community Building: Winemaking can connect you with other enthusiasts, creating a sense of community.

14. Conversation Starter: Having a unique hobby like winemaking provides interesting conversation topics.

Health and Quality:

15. Potential for Enhanced Nutritional Value: Using fresh fruits can preserve and concentrate their nutritional content.

16. Preservative-Free Options: You can avoid the preservatives often found in commercial wines.

17. Organic Options: By selecting your own fruit, you can assure that the wine is made from organic materials.

18. Freshness: Home made wine can be consumed very soon after it has been made, assuring peak freshness.

Exploration:

19. Experimentation: Home winemaking allows for endless experimentation with flavors and ingredients.

20. Exploration of different fruit wines: Beyond grapes, you can make wines from a wide variety of fruits.

It's important to remember that responsible consumption is key, even with homemade wine.

Where there is no wine, there is no love.

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