What kind of alcohol is available in Southeast Asia? Compared to America and Europe, Southeast Asia is closer to Japan in terms of distance, but there are many differences in terms of culture. There may also be differences in alcohol between Japan and Southeast Asian countries. This is because, among the various drinks, alcohol is something that reflects the history and climate of each country particularly strongly.
In this article, we will introduce the history and types of alcohol in Southeast Asia.

■The history of alcohol in Southeast Asia

Alcohol is said to have originated from wine in the ancient Mesopotamian civilization around 8000 BC. Later, beer was developed in the same civilization, and its production method spread all over the world. Southeast Asia is no exception, and a unique technique has been confirmed in which starchy grains such as corn and glutinous rice are packed into a sake jar together with koji and fermented. Since alcohol is not based on fruit juice like wine, it was not always liquid, and in some cultures it was solid.

■Types of alcohol in Southeast Asia

The most commonly consumed alcoholic beverage in Southeast Asia today is "spirits." Spirits are distilled alcoholic beverages, which are made by heating alcohol, cooling the evaporated alcohol, and liquefying it. Examples of spirits include whiskey, brandy, and shochu in Japan.

The next most popular drink is beer. The way it is drunk is different from Europe, where it is generally drunk with ice. This is thought to be because Southeast Asian countries are close to the equator and have high temperatures all year round, and people want to enjoy cold alcohol at an affordable price and in a casual atmosphere.

■What are the famous alcoholic drinks in each Southeast Asian country?

We will introduce some of the most famous alcoholic drinks in Southeast Asian countries. Some of the names may not be familiar in Japan, but they are popular in each region. Please consider choosing some as souvenirs.

Mongolia/Arkh
Simeen Arkhi means "alcohol" in Mongolian, and is a historic alcoholic drink made by distilling fermented goat, sheep, and cow milk. It used to be hard to get hold of, but nowadays it is produced by companies and is widely available. It is a smooth drink with a milky aroma.
There is also something called "Tsagaan Arkhi," which means "vodka."

・Laos/Beer Lao
It is so famous that when you say beer in Laos, you mean Beer Lao. The taste is similar to Japanese beer, but as mentioned earlier, the general way of drinking beer in Southeast Asia is to put ice in it, so it may feel a little thin. If you want to know the proper taste, you will need to go to a high-end restaurant.

・Philippines/Emperador
In terms of name recognition, the beer "San Miguel" is more well-known, but the brandy "Emperador" is also very popular. Although it is not well known in Japan, Emperador is the world's largest brandy company, and Emperador is the "world's best-selling" brandy. When Japanese people drink it, they often comment that it "smells like yatsuhashi." It is sweet and inexpensive, so it can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.

■ Summary of drinking culture in Southeast Asia

・Mesopotamian civilization also introduced the method of making alcohol to Southeast Asia, but the country also had its own unique methods.
・The most commonly consumed drink in Southeast Asia is "spirits" (distilled alcohol)
・In Southeast Asia, it is common to drink beer with ice.
・There are many alcoholic drinks that are famous locally but not well known in Japan.

Many Southeast Asian countries may have the impression that alcohol is not familiar to them due to religious reasons. However, because each country has devised ways of drinking that suit their customs and culture, alcohol is a beloved drink in every country. There are many "rare alcoholic beverages that are only drunk in this country or in this area," so please do some research yourself. Such rare alcoholic beverages would make a great souvenir.