Tuak is a type of Indonesian alcoholic drink. Making tuak This traditional alcoholic drink is usually made from fermented rice (usually glutinous rice) using yeast and enzymes that are naturally present in yeast. The enzymes break down the starch in rice into sugar and the yeast converts the sugar into alcohol, which is a fermentation process. The fermentation process also produces carbon dioxide, apart from alcohol. Usually tuak is also made in large volumes with the help of sugar mixed with water, then boiled and allowed to cool before being added to the fermented rice and yeast mixture. Tuak can also be made from the refining process of palm and coconut sap which dominates local Indonesian drinks. In addition, there are also those that come from fermented fruits and rice. Actually, this type of tuak drink also exists in various countries. For example Sake in Japan, Makgeolli in Korea, Sato in Thailand, Mi Jiu in China, and Tapuy in the Philippines. The alcohol content in tuak also varies, from five percent to 20 percent. The taste of tuak can also vary, some are slightly sweet or very sweet, depending on the sugar used in the fermentation process. However, tuak with poor quality usually tastes sour due to the presence of other bacteria that enter and produce lactic acid. The benefits of tuak products that contain alcohol are still questionable. However, some people believe that tuak is also beneficial for health because it contains antioxidants and vitamin C.
Tuak is also claimed to treat kidney disease and effectively refreshes the body. The tuak that is claimed to have these benefits is tuak from Pusuk Lestari Village, Batulayar District, West Lombok, which is made from tapped palm tree flowers. Launching the Journal of Experimental and Clinical Anatomy, tuak can also improve visual abilities and lactation or milk production and excretion from the breast. Therefore, this traditional drink is often added to herbal or medicinal products. However, consuming too much tuak can also cause decreased testicular function by lowering testosterone levels, sperm motility, and sperm viability.
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