ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES NG OTHI PH UONG DU NG, WA R AW UTK RUSONG ANDKAPTIRAH AY U K US WA N TO

Rice-based alcoholic beverages are highly popular in Vietnam, as are similar traditional fermented alcoholic beverages in other Southeast Asian countries (Basuki et al. 1996; Hesseltine 1983; Nout and Aidoo 2002). In Vietnam, the vast majority of alcoholic beverages produced from rice are ferments fortied with added alcohol or are distillates. ey are mostly produced at home using solid-state starters in tablet form and under non-sterile and marginally controlled conditions. eir production is an important source of income for many farmer families in rural areas.