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Indigenous Fermented Food and Beverages: A Potential for Economic Development of the High Altitude Societies in Uttaranchal

Abstract The high altitude Himalayan region is characterized by diverse ethnic groups, which have developed their own cultures based on available natural resources, giving rise to a cultural diversity on par with the high level of biological diversity found in the region. Amongst the high landers of Himalaya making and use of fermented food and beverages using local food crops and other biological resources is very common. Traditionally, Bhotiya tribal community of Uttaranchal State in Western Himalaya use to make two types of beverages such as jann (local beer), and daru (alcoholic drink) and also prepare fermented food locally called as sez. The traditional catalyzing agent used in the preparation of fermented foods and beverages is called balam in Kumaon and balma in Garhwal region of Uttaranchal, which is not prepared by all villagers in the society. This paper tries to document the various ingredients used in making indigenous beverages and the recipes for making them along with the linkages involved in the marginalisation of this practice and eco-friendly knowledge systems of the remote Himalayan region.