Brem

Brem is a traditional Indonesian fermented rice wine originating from Bali and Java. It is made from glutinous rice that is fermented using a special yeast culture called ragi tape. The fermentation process converts the rice starches into sugar and then into alcohol, resulting in a sweet, slightly tangy alcoholic beverage.

There are two main types of brem: liquid brem from Bali, which is a reddish or white rice wine with an alcohol content of around 5-14% ABV, and solid brem from Java, which is a fermented rice cake that is dried and eaten as a snack with a sweet and slightly sour taste.

In Balinese culture, brem is considered a sacred offering in Hindu rituals, especially in temple ceremonies, and is believed to be a gift to the gods and spirits, playing an essential role in religious traditions. It has a unique sweet, fruity, and slightly sour flavor due to the fermentation process and is often enjoyed as a dessert wine, served chilled, or used as an ingredient in traditional Balinese cooking.

Brem is similar to sake from Japan and tapuy from the Philippines but tends to be sweeter and less strong than distilled rice spirits like rượu đé from Vietnam or lao-lao from Laos.