A raw clear spirit distilled from dates, sorghum or cassava in drum stills. It is distilled informally across South Sudan, often by women brewers whose trade was criminalised in Khartoum but became a mainstay of Juba’s economy.
Unlicensed distilling is illegal almost everywhere, running a still without discarding the volatile head leaves methanol in the bottle, and cassava additionally has to be processed correctly before it is fermented at all.
What goes into it
- dates, sorghum or cassava
- water
How it is made
The base is fermented for several days in drums, then run through an improvised still — commonly a drum with a pipe cooled in water. Nothing is separated out of the run, so the volatile first fraction goes into the bottle, and the strength varies widely from producer to producer.
How long it takes: days to ferment, then a day to distil
How it is eaten
Neat in small glasses, in bars and at gatherings.
History
Distilled informally across South Sudan, often by women brewers whose trade was criminalised in Khartoum but became a mainstay of Juba’s economy.
Frequently asked questions
What is Araki?
Araki is a wine & spirit from South Sudan: raw clear spirit distilled from dates, sorghum or cassava in drum stills. Distilled informally across South Sudan, often by women brewers whose trade was criminalised in Khartoum but became a mainstay of Juba’s economy.
How is Araki made?
The base is fermented for several days in drums, then run through an improvised still — commonly a drum with a pipe cooled in water. Nothing is separated out of the run, so the volatile first fraction goes into the bottle, and the strength varies widely from producer to producer. It takes days to ferment, then a day to distil.
Can I make Araki at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. Unlicensed distilling is illegal almost everywhere, running a still without discarding the volatile head leaves methanol in the bottle, and cassava additionally has to be processed correctly before it is fermented at all.
What goes into Araki?
Dates, sorghum or cassava, water.
How is Araki eaten?
Neat in small glasses, in bars and at gatherings.
