Apong and the Adi Tribe: Exploring the Cultural and Social Essence of Arunachal Pradesh’s Traditional Beverage

Indigenous people across the globe have different knowledge of food production and consumption. These are unique knowledge passes down across the generation having cultural and tradition significances. Among tribal people food is more than just sustenance; it is a complex system of symbolic communication that conveys meaning and significance in various social contexts. Arunachal Pradesh is a home for 26 major tribes with more than 100 sub-tribes. The Adis are one of the major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh and hold rich knowledge on traditional fermented rice beer called Apong. The Apong is not merely a food commodity among the Adi, but it is an integral part of intangible cultural heritage preserved for ages. Grounded in the ethnographic method, we argue that Apong is deeply intertwined with the socio-cultural aspects of life among the Adi tribe, and it also facilitates social bonding and a sense of belongingness within the community.