The Making of Tapai

Tapai is actually rice wine. Famous among locals. It is fermented, rice-based beverages. I had this opportunity to witness and experience the whole process of making tapai. A very simple way to prepare this beverages.

1. The first step in making tapai, a tajau is selected. Make sure that it is clean for the tapai storage.

2. Prepare rice. (I got it from the Tamu, a low grade rice is preferable.The price is RM22 per10kg.)

3. This big pot will be used to cook the rice. ( You can choose how to cook the rice, modern way or traditional way). Don't forget to prepare clean area to cool the cooked rice. Also, make sure the 'sasad' or yeast are in the good condition.

4. Wash the rice and pour in water. (the same method as cooking rice for your family)

5. After the rice is cooked, put it on the clean area to cool it before mixing it with the sasad.

6. While waiting for the rice to be cool, crushed the sasad into powder.

7. Mix the sasad powder with the cooked rice.

8. Now, put the mixed rice with sasad inside the tajau. ( Cover it with plastic to prevent anything crawl into it. Let the fermentation for months. The longer you kept it, the better the quality).