Guwahati: A traditional rice wine associated with Assam’s Mising community has received national recognition after winning the Grand Gold at the Spiritz Blind Tasting Awards 2026, marking a significant achievement for the state’s indigenous beverage sector.
Tí Po Apong, a premium heritage rice wine developed in collaboration with women brewers from the Mising community, received the award at the 13th Spiritz Conclave & Achievers’ Awards held in Gurugram on October 7.
The recognition is particularly notable as the beverage emerged as a winner in a blind tasting competition featuring entries from 502 brands across different beverage categories and price segments. During the evaluation, judges assessed the entries without access to information about their brands, producers or origins.
The award marks the culmination of an initiative that began during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the aim of preserving Po Apong, a traditional Mising rice brew, while making it suitable for wider commercial markets without compromising its cultural identity.
The project sought to combine generations-old brewing practices with modern production standards, creating a pathway for a community beverage to reach consumers beyond its traditional market.
Scientist Dr Dipankar Kalita led the work on preservation, while entrepreneur Abhijit Pegu focused on developing the product’s commercial potential. Women members of Self-Help Groups in Dhemaji district, who carry generations of knowledge about brewing Po Apong, played a central role in standardising the beverage.
Wine professional Ajoy Shaw, DipWSET, formerly vice-president and chief winemaker at Sula Vineyards, later joined the initiative to help improve the product’s quality and consistency.
The resulting beverage brings together traditional brewing expertise and contemporary practices involving hygiene, preservation, bottling and quality control.
The achievement is being viewed as an opportunity to introduce Assam‘s indigenous beverages to premium markets. Unlike conventional wine and spirit products, Po Apong has a distinct flavour profile rooted in the Mising community’s culinary and cultural traditions.
The team behind Tí is now looking to expand the beverage’s presence beyond Assam, with plans to eventually explore international markets and introduce it as a heritage drink from Northeast India.
Developed by Dr Dipankar Laboratories Pvt Ltd, Tí represents a collaboration between scientific research, professional winemaking expertise and the traditional knowledge of Mising women brewers.
The recognition could also bring greater attention to other traditional fermented beverages of Northeast India, many of which continue to remain largely within local markets despite their cultural and culinary importance.
For the Mising community, the award represents an opportunity to share a traditional beverage with a wider audience while preserving the knowledge and brewing practices passed down through generations.