Moonshine in Rural Gujarat

I observed a camel being ridden by a young man slowly ambling along a dirt road as only a camel can. Camels are not a common sight in this part of Gujarat. A farm tractor travelling in the opposite direction stops when it gets to the camel and the driver asks, "How much are they?"

"20 rupees each," came the answer. I wonder what they are talking about.

"Give me two," says the tractor driver."No, give me three, here's 50 rupees. Is it a deal?"

The camel-rider dipped into a large cloth bag hanging from his saddle and produced three clear plastic bags filled with a clear liquid, gave them to the tractor driver, and accepted a 50 rupee note in return. I had just observed a bootlegger selling liquor in Gujarat which is supposed to be a dry state.

Has anyone ever tried this stuff? What sort of strength is it, and what does it taste like? As a teetotaller, I was not able to sample the wares.

I once had moonshine in Orissa.... If memory serves correct they called it "pan moorie". sp. .... It was bright yellow from some added spice and the most vile stuff I've ever had. One small taste was enough for me. The people who drank any quantity had sore heads the next day.

Best avoid anything like this, as the danger from methanol, fusil oil, ??? is very real.

Then there's the question of cashew fenni.... Is any of the stuff actually drinkable?

Wanderer22

"Life is too short for cheap wine"!

It all tastes like kerosene to me, except for the orange-flavored white liquor we scored in Delhi one year. Vile stuff!