Feni (liquor) is an alcoholic drink of Goa made from cashew or coconut. It is the most popular drink of the state, taken by both the locals and tourists. It is not commercially produced in large quantities, as most of it is hand-made, and is completely natural. About 4000 distillers in Goa make Feni drink, 70% of which is for home consumption. The rest is sold in the market. You will even find a few bars and restaurants that sell Feni. The alcohol content varies between 42.8% and 45% abv. Feni produced in south Goa generally has higher alcohol content (43% to 45% abv).People in Goa have been drinking Feni for more than 400 years. Hand-made, this completely natural drink goes back to the days of the Portuguese rule when they arrived in Goa in the 16th century. Like the vindaloo, saanas, sorpotel, and bebinca, Feni too is a legacy of the Portuguese. But according to others, Feni was made in Goa even before the Portuguese arrived. It was mainly coconut Feni, though. Cashew Feni and other varieties developed because of the Portuguese influence.
The name Feni comes from the Sanskrit word phena, which means ‘froth’, because of the bubbles that form when the liquor is poured or shaken in a bottle.
It is believed that Feni was first made at Satari, a sub-district and densely forested area of north-east Goa, close to the state’s capital with Maharashtra. A few villagers used to make the drink from coconut for personal consumption. Goa, a coastal state, always had abundant supply of coconut. Now of course, Feni is made throughout the state. But the variety differs from region to region. Feni made in the south, for instance, has higher alcohol content.
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