Hawaiian moonshine, that's what Okolehao is, orginigally made from the Ti plants roots, it was what the natives drank as their beer, to catch a buzz. Amazing isn't it? That every culture has their liquor for a feel good time. Hawaiians weren't any different, okolehao was the drink.
When the white settlers came to the islands, they introduced the techniques of distillation, the process of separating different mixtures based on differences in their volatilities in a boiling mixture. And then fermenting it, the starches from the roots turned to sugar. The liquor was 60 to 80 proof. Okolehao was also sold to the military personnel in World War Two, but once vodka and rum was sold in the islands, the production of Okolehao subsided, but was still made underground much like moonshine back in the states.
Much like whiskey, the taste would vary from different distillers, the length of time it was aged, usually in used oak barrels. Also as others started to produce Okolehao, other ingredients with sugar content was added, such as pineapple, taro, raw sugar etc. So the taste varied, much like wines, beers, and other liquors today, but this drink believe it or not does have some followers. Recently some guy and his wife from Chicago asked me if I ever drank that, I said no to his surprise. I just never had anyone to turn me on to it, apparently this guy and his wife have been traveling all over the world, and are adventurous, and had some old Hawaiian man turn them on to it.
Note: If a bottle of booze is listed as 80 proof, it has an alcohol content of 40%; most American alcohol sold if you've noticed is 80 proof.
Photo copyright Honolulu Advertiser/
Bottle of Okolehao commercial grade
When the white settlers came to the islands, they introduced the techniques of distillation, the process of separating different mixtures based on differences in their volatilities in a boiling mixture. And then fermenting it, the starches from the roots turned to sugar. The liquor was 60 to 80 proof. Okolehao was also sold to the military personnel in World War Two, but once vodka and rum was sold in the islands, the production of Okolehao subsided, but was still made underground much like moonshine back in the states.
Much like whiskey, the taste would vary from different distillers, the length of time it was aged, usually in used oak barrels. Also as others started to produce Okolehao, other ingredients with sugar content was added, such as pineapple, taro, raw sugar etc. So the taste varied, much like wines, beers, and other liquors today, but this drink believe it or not does have some followers. Recently some guy and his wife from Chicago asked me if I ever drank that, I said no to his surprise. I just never had anyone to turn me on to it, apparently this guy and his wife have been traveling all over the world, and are adventurous, and had some old Hawaiian man turn them on to it.
Note: If a bottle of booze is listed as 80 proof, it has an alcohol content of 40%; most American alcohol sold if you've noticed is 80 proof.
Photo copyright Honolulu Advertiser/
Bottle of Okolehao commercial grade
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