This drink is taken directly from the tree trunk and can be drunk immediately without any processing.
Since ancient times, there has been a traditional drink that Mother Nature has graciously given to the people of Ngoc Tem commune, Kon Plong district, Kon Tum province. That is Doac wine . This is also the only wine in the world that is taken directly from the tree and brought home to drink without any processing .
This is an indispensable drink in big festivals, holidays, New Year, weddings as well as in the daily life of the people of Ngoc Tem commune. Therefore, it carries the cultural identity of the mountains and forests here.
Doac wine is taken from the trunk of the doac tree (also known as the ta vat tree) , then soaked with dried chuon tree bark. In addition, the wine does not add any chemicals.
This is also the only wine in the world that is taken directly from the tree and brought home to drink.
From March to June, the wild palm trees begin to bloom. However, people have to wait until the flowers are old, then cut off the flowers and leave the stem about 2 spans long so that it does not bear fruit before they can get the wine.
Getting the doac wine is not easy. On the way, you have to cross steep slopes full of sharp rocks and leeches before entering the doac forest. The doac trees are tall, on which drops of wine are dripping into bamboo tubes about 4m long. Because the doac flowers grow quite high, people will use two wooden sticks to cross them to climb up. When they reach the top, they use a broom made from the doac leaf stalks to chase away the wasps.
Once you cut it, you will see a few drops of wine oozing out.
After chasing away the bees, people start to untie the ropes that tie the bamboo tube and move it down. The person at the bottom will hold the end of the tube tightly, place it on a high rock and tilt it upside down to easily drain the wine. After pouring all the wine into the can, people will use clean water to clean the bamboo tube and then bring it up to continue collecting the wine. At this time, the person at the top will cut a thin slice of about 5mm from the flower stem and use a knife to lightly incise it. Once you have finished cutting, you will see a few drops of wine oozing out. Wait until the wine flows in a stream, people use palmyra leaves cut into arrow shapes to guide the wine into the tube and tie it carefully to the tree trunk.
According to the locals, the flowers must be cut every day to avoid damage and the tree will produce wine. Each tree from 4 to 5 years old will usually produce wine for 3 to 4 months. The tree will rest for a while and then can produce wine again .
Palm wine is very easy to drink so both young men and women can enjoy it.
When people have just finished taking wine from the tree trunk, they often drink it right under the tree to enjoy the freshest flavor . The wine is not clear but has a milky white color like coconut water and a very mild aroma . Although it is called wine, when drinking it, it does not have the usual spicy or bitter taste but is slightly sweet and very refreshing. According to the people here, the wine is very easy to drink so both young people and women can enjoy it. Moreover, this wine also has a cooling and sedative effect, so people who drink it will sleep very well.
Previously, doac wine was only known to the locals and the surrounding area. Nowadays, thanks to its delicious and unique flavor, doac wine has become a specialty that every tourist wants to buy as a gift for their relatives when coming to Ngoc Tem commune (Kon Tum). Moreover, this specialty is extremely cheap, only priced from 15,000 - 20,000 VND/liter .
However, Doac wine is very perishable and can only be used for 1-2 days. If you put it in the refrigerator, it can only be preserved for 5 days before it turns sour. Therefore, many tourists from Quang Nam and Da Nang, although they like it very much, are afraid of spoiling the wine and do not dare to buy it.
