Marua Apo (Arunachal Pradesh Marua Millet Beverage)

The beautiful north eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh is famous for its diverse agricultural crops, flora and fauna and delicious local cuisine and fermented brews. Each indigenous community in this state has left an indelible impression in the history of Akhanda Bharat with its fascinating social, cultural, religious and spiritual beliefs and rituals.

 

In fact, each community uses a variety of locally available medicinal plants, seeds, roots and leaves to prepare its culinary delights and fermented beverages that form an important role in their day – to – day lives, on festivals and social occasions.

 

One such fermented brew is marua millet beverage prepared from marua also known as Finger Millet that has been cultivated in this region since the Indus Valley Civilization braving changing climatic conditions. Marua is rich in protein, zinc, iron and calcium and is therefore, preferred by locals for its balanced nutrition.

 

Marua Apo is still prepared using traditional means and utensils. A measure (normally one kg) of marua is cleaned, roasted on medium flame for 30 minutes, soaked in 2 litres of water for about 3 hours and cooked till it becomes soft.

 

The cooked millet is spread on a tray and allowed to cool. It is covered with a thin muslin cloth. Four balls (about 40 g that has been powdered) known as the starter cake is mixed with the cooked millet and allowed to ferment for at least 6 days in a perforated basket covered with the leaves of a wild banana variety (Phrynium capitatum).

 

The fermented mixture is transferred to a perforated pot (or bamboo basket) covered with a muslin cloth and boiling or warm water is slowly poured over this. The liquid that collects in the bottom of the pot is Marua Apo which has a dazzling golden – yellow colour, is sweet to taste and has a heady aroma.

 

This is allowed to ferment for a few hours and filtered using a bamboo pole. Sometimes, a dried luffa (Luffa acutangula Roxb.) is dipped into it and squeezed into a jar for consumption.

 

Marua Apo was granted the Geographical Indication Tag (GI) in 2023.

 

Written by Lakshmi Subramanian