A harsh home-distilled spirit made from yeast, sugar and fruit in bush stills. It is illegally distilled across the Solomon Islands, blamed for widespread alcohol harm, and periodically the target of police raids.
Unlicensed distilling is illegal in the Solomon Islands and almost everywhere else, and kwaso is specifically associated with poisonings and alcohol harm because nothing is cut away from the run.
What goes into it
- sugar
- baker’s yeast
- fruit or coconut, for flavour
- water
How it is made
Sugar, yeast and water are fermented in a drum for a week or so, then run through a still improvised from drums and pipe cooled in a stream. Nothing is discarded from the run and the strength is unknown to both maker and drinker, which is a large part of the harm.
How long it takes: about a week to ferment, then a day to distil
How it is eaten
Neat in whatever container is to hand.
History
Illegally distilled across the islands, kwaso is blamed for widespread alcohol harm and is periodically the target of police raids on bush stills.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kwaso?
Kwaso is a wine & spirit from Solomon Islands: harsh home-distilled spirit made from yeast, sugar and fruit in bush stills. Illegally distilled across the islands, kwaso is blamed for widespread alcohol harm and is periodically the target of police raids on bush stills.
How is Kwaso made?
Sugar, yeast and water are fermented in a drum for a week or so, then run through a still improvised from drums and pipe cooled in a stream. Nothing is discarded from the run and the strength is unknown to both maker and drinker, which is a large part of the harm. It takes about a week to ferment, then a day to distil.
Can I make Kwaso at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. Unlicensed distilling is illegal in the Solomon Islands and almost everywhere else, and kwaso is specifically associated with poisonings and alcohol harm because nothing is cut away from the run.
What goes into Kwaso?
Sugar, baker’s yeast, fruit or coconut, for flavour, water.
How is Kwaso eaten?
Neat in whatever container is to hand.
