A clear home-distilled spirit made from dates, millet or sorghum, produced in small village stills across southern Chad and among northern date growers. It is strong, informal and sold by the bottle outside any licensing system.
Unlicensed distilling is illegal in Chad and almost everywhere else, and running a still without discarding the volatile heads leaves methanol in the bottle.
What goes into it
- dates, millet or sorghum
- water
How it is made
The base is fermented for several days in a covered vessel — dates give up their sugar directly, grain has to be sprouted or cooked first — and then run through a simple still, commonly a pot with a tube cooled in water. There is rarely any separation of the first fraction from the rest.
How long it takes: several days to ferment, then a day to distil
How it is eaten
Neat in small glasses at gatherings.
History
Distilled in small village stills in southern Chad and among date growers in the north; it is a strong informal spirit sold by the bottle.
Frequently asked questions
What is Arki?
Arki is a wine & spirit from Chad: clear home-distilled spirit made from dates, millet or sorghum. Distilled in small village stills in southern Chad and among date growers in the north; it is a strong informal spirit sold by the bottle.
How is Arki made?
The base is fermented for several days in a covered vessel — dates give up their sugar directly, grain has to be sprouted or cooked first — and then run through a simple still, commonly a pot with a tube cooled in water. There is rarely any separation of the first fraction from the rest. It takes several days to ferment, then a day to distil.
Can I make Arki at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. Unlicensed distilling is illegal in Chad and almost everywhere else, and running a still without discarding the volatile heads leaves methanol in the bottle.
What goes into Arki?
Dates, millet or sorghum, water.
How is Arki eaten?
Neat in small glasses at gatherings.
