Tharra


Tharra is a type of Desi daru which is locally, and often illegally, brewed alcoholic drink in the Indian subcontinent, mainly North India and modern-day Pakistan. 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.

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

The liquor contain many impurities and is often injurious to health.

Local economy

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