Viche is a traditional home-brewed alcoholic drink made from sugar cane popular on Colombia’s Pacific Coast. It used to be illegal[1] but in September 2021 Colombia's senate passed a law[2] declaring the beverage a part of the country’s "cultural and ancestral heritage," allowing also commercial production.[3]
Viche has long been used in traditional communities as a ceremonial intoxicant and for medicinal purposes, notably to purge stomach bugs and parasites, and as an aphrodisiac.[4][5][6]
Viche contains approximately 35% of alcohol.[6] It can be consumed on it's own but it is often mixed with sugary fruit juices.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ "Colombian Drinks: Traditional, Popular, Unique, Tasty, and Crazy". The Unconventional Route. 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
- ^ "El viche del Pacífico makes history as a new law in Colombia – Cali – Colombia". Today in 24 English. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
- ^ Diakite, Parker (2021-09-24). "Here's Why Afro-Colombian Moonshine Being Listed As Heritage Drink Is Important". Travel Noire. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
- ^ Abogados, Vera (10 October 2021). "Viche, part of Colombia's cultural and ancestral heritage - Colombia - MI - Marcasur International". Marcasurmi. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
- ^ "El viche se convierte en 'patrimonio ancestral y cultural' de Colombia". El Tiempo (in Spanish). 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
- ^ a b "Viche… a la salud del Petronio". www.cali.gov.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-01-03.
- ^ Parkin Daniels, Jan (2021-09-19). "African-Colombian moonshine gets official seal of approval as heritage drink". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-01-03.