| Type | Distilled alcoholic spirit |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sudan,Sudan andSouth Sudan |
| Introduced | Medieval |
| Alcohol by volume | Variable, 30–80% |
| Proof (US) | 60–160° |
| Color | clear |
| Ingredients | dates, water, yeast |
Araqi (Arabic:عرقي,romanized: ʿaraqī; alsoaraki,aragy)[1] is adate-liquor distilled inSudan. The1983 introduction of sharia in Sudan prevented licit sales of alcohol, but a black market exists to meet local demand. The drink is made by mixing dates with water and yeast, fermenting the mix, and then distilling it. It is usually drunk neat.[2]
During thewar in Darfur, a number of southern Sudanese women came to the north as refugees, and found that some of the only professions available to them were prostitution or brewing araqi, the latter being a skill some already had, with a reliable market demand. A 2000 UN report noted that 80% of the women in Khartoum's women's prison were there on charges of prostitution or brewing araqi.[3]
Araqi is also popular inSouth Sudan, which split from Sudan in 2011 and where alcohol is legal.[4]
Home distilling can lead tomethanol poisoning; 10 died and several others were blinded by a batch of incorrectly distilled araqi inEast Darfur in 2017.[5]
In 2020, a new law permitted alcohol sales to non-Muslims in Sudan.[6]
 | Thisdistilled beverage–related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
.jpg) | ThisArab cuisine–related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
