This drink is extracted directly from the trunk of the tree and can be consumed immediately without any processing.
Since ancient times, there has been a traditional drink that Mother Nature has graciously gifted to the people of Ngọc Tem commune, Kon Plông district, Kon Tum province. This drink is known as Doac wine. It is also the only wine in the world extracted directly from a tree, ready for consumption without any processing.
This beverage is an essential part of major festivals, celebrations, weddings, and daily life for the residents of Ngọc Tem commune. Therefore, it deeply embodies the cultural identity of the mountainous region.
Doac wine is extracted from the trunk of the Doac tree (also known as the Tà Vạt tree), and is then soaked with dried bark from the Chuồn tree. Additionally, no chemicals are added to the wine.
This is also the only wine in the world extracted directly from a tree for consumption.
From March to June each year, Doac trees in the forest begin to bloom. However, the locals must wait until the flowers mature, cutting off the blossoms while leaving about a two-hand-span long stem to prevent fruit from forming before they can extract the wine.
Extracting Doac wine is not an easy task. The journey involves crossing steep, rocky slopes and dense bushes filled with mosquitoes before reaching the Doac forest. The tall Doac trees have drops of wine trickling into long bamboo tubes about 4 meters in length. Since the flowers of the Doac tree grow quite high, the locals use two wooden poles to climb up. Upon reaching the top, they use a broom made from Doac leaves to fend off wasps.
Once cut, you will see a few drops of wine oozing out.
After eliminating the wasps, the locals begin to untie the rope holding the bamboo tube and lower it down. The person below firmly holds the tube’s end, resting it on a high stone and tilting it downwards for easier extraction of the wine. After pouring all the wine into a container, they rinse the bamboo tube with clean water and then send it back up to continue collecting wine. At this point, the person above will cut a thin slice about 5mm from the flower stem and make a small cut. Once cut, a few drops of wine will ooze out. They wait until the wine flows steadily, using palm leaves shaped like arrows to guide the wine into the tube and secure it carefully on the tree trunk.
According to the locals, they must cut the flowers daily to prevent spoilage and ensure the Doac tree continues to produce wine. Each Doac tree, after 4 to 5 years, typically yields wine for 3 to 4 months. The tree will rest for a while before producing more wine.
Doac wine is very easy to drink, so both young people and women can enjoy it.
Once the wine is extracted from the Doac tree, the locals often consume it right at the base of the tree to enjoy its freshest flavor. Doac wine is not clear but has a milky white color similar to coconut water and a very mild aroma. Although it is called wine, it does not have the usual spicy or bitter taste; instead, it is slightly sweet and very refreshing. According to the locals, Doac wine is very easy to drink, making it enjoyable for both young people and women. Moreover, this wine has cooling and calming effects, allowing those who drink it to sleep very well.
In the past, Doac wine was known only to the local people and those in the surrounding areas. Today, thanks to its delicious and unique flavor, Doac wine has become a specialty that every visitor wishes to buy as a gift for loved ones when visiting Ngọc Tem commune (Kon Tum). Furthermore, this specialty is incredibly affordable, priced between 15,000 – 20,000 VND per liter.
However, Doac wine is very perishable and can only be consumed within 1 to 2 days. If stored in the refrigerator, it can be kept until the fifth day before it turns sour. Therefore, many tourists from Quảng Nam and Đà Nẵng, although they love it, hesitate to buy it due to concerns about spoilage.
