Tharra

Tharra (Hindi: ठर्रा, Urdu: ٹھرا) is a type of Desi daru which is locally, and often illegally, brewed alcoholic drink in the Indian subcontinent, mainly India and Pakistan.^[1] It is made from yeast fermentation of sugarcane, or wheat husk, especially in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. Since it is usually made from sugarcane, it is often viewed as a crude rum.^[2]

Preparation

Due to the pungent smell of the distilling process, Tharra is often prepared in remote fields, away from human settlements. It recycles some of the waste products of the agricultural economy of the region.

Health concerns

According to a study done in Pakistan, homemade liquor Tharra contain many impurities and is often injurious to health.^[3]

Local economy

It is often consumed by poor or landless tillers, typically distilled with the connivance of officials and police officers, generating large profits.

References

^ Use of ‘tharra’ rises alarmingly, Intikhab Ali, 15 September 2005, Daily Times (Pakistan), ... The number of teenagers in the city drinking locally made liquor called tharra is fast increasing ... also known in the market as kuppi, bambaat, katchi shraab and kutta maar. This liquor is life-threatening and its worst side-effects include loss of eyesight and destroyed liver ...
^ Alan J. Buglass (13 January 2011). "Distilled Spirits". Handbook of Alcoholic Beverages: Technical, Analytical and Nutritional Aspects. John Wiley & Sons. p. 558. ISBN 978-0-470-97665-4. ... Indian rum ranges from the rough and pungent tharra to sophisticated, aged dark beverages such as Old Monk ...
^ Imran, Uzma; Chandio, Awais; Soomro, Jamil; Kumar, Haresh; Brohi, Rafi-U-Zaman (1 October 2017). "Assessment of Homemade Liquor "Tharra" Quality by GC-FID and its Potential Impacts on Human Health". Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology. 36 (4): 1025–1036. Bibcode:2017MURJE..36.1025I. doi:10.22581/muet1982.1704.27.