Neera: The Age Old Beverage from Palm Sap

'Neera' is the age old popular beverage in Tamil Nadu, India, due to its wonderful taste, mesmerizing flavor and abundant nutritive value. Neera (Hindi) also called 'Pathaneer' or "Akkani'' (Tamil), is the sweet, non-alcoholic beverage derived from fresh Palm sap. The palm sap extract, which does not require any crushing or mixing as do other fresh juice preparations, is ready for consumption once brought down from palm tree top.

Age Old Beverage

The palm sap or neera is extracted from both the Palmyrah Palm (Borassus Flabellifermis) and the Coconut Palm (Cocos Nucifera) trees in Tamil Nadu. Palm sap Extraction, for making 'Palm wine', is very popular in tropical countries like Congo, India, chaina, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia. Tapping palm sap, for making neera, is the age old profession in Tamil Nadu. (wikipedia)

People in the villages of South Tamil Nadu taste this beverage, at empty stomach, early in the morning and enjoy its refershing taste and rejuvenating effect. The Pathaneer hawker prepares a container to distribute the beverage using a light green palmyrah leaf. The hawker effortlessly folds the green palmyrah leaf into a boat-shaped holder. You will be astonished to if you watch his hands while maiking this holder. He pours the beverage and extends with courtesy.

Can we get neera in Chennai and other cities of Tamil Nadu? Yes. The State Government of Tamil Nadu is encouraging the palm industry. The refreshing neera is available all through the year in Chennai and other cities through Tamil Nadu Government sponsored sales outlets.

Neera Extraction

Ideal time for palm sap extraction is when the palm flower budding to blossom. The trained village toddy extractors climb tree by tree in the evening with a clay pot (mouth covered with a white cloth). With the sickle knife they will cut near the bud and allow the white milky sap to ooze out and the pot tied just below the bud collect the liquid drop by drop till the secretion completes. The white palm sap, at initial satges (when collected) does not ferment (non-alcoholic) and tastes very sweet. As the time passes the sap get fermented, intoxicates and tastes sour. The fermented liquid is known as 'Palm Wine' or Kallu (Tamil). The extraction of Palm Wine is prohibited in India. As the palm sap gets fermented very quickly, they apply lime on the surface of the pot as a preservative. The lime prevents quick fermentation.

Nutritional Value

The Neera has low-fat, low calorific value (396 for 100 gms) and.rich nutritive value. The nutritional analysis published by Nutritional Research Laboratories, Indian Council of Medical Research is presented here: Carbohydrates (98.76), Protein (2 %), Fat. 0.04% (Ether extracts.) (0.04), Minerals (0.3), Iron (Fe) (1.4mg. %), Calcium Ca (58.7mg %), Phosphorus (P) (5.4mg. %) and Riboflavin (8.2 mg/100 gm) - (Indian Council of Medical Research)

Recipe: 1

Pathaneer Rice

Ingredients

1) Raw Rice - 200 gm

2) Pathaneer - 800 ml

3) Ghee - 3 Table Spoon

4) Coconut (grated) - 1 cup

5) Cashewnut - 6-8 nos

6) Dry Grapes - 10 nos

Preparation

1) Light your stove. Pour Pathaneer in copper bottomed vessel and heat it in low flame

2) Add cleaned rice to Pathaneer and allow it to cook at simmer heat till the rice becomes sticky and soft

3) Stir it with a lad

4) Heat ghee in a frying pan and add cashew nut, dry grapes and grated coconut

5) Stir well till all the ingrediants mixed well

6) Remove from the stove

7) Serve it hot

Source:

1. http://www.palmsugar.com/neera1.htm
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neera