Health Benefits of drinking "Tapuy": Cordillera's traditional rice wine

Photo Courtesy || PhilRice

You might have heard of  Tapuy when you visited Baguio or some places in the Cordilleras. You might have even tasted and got intrigued with this one-of-a-kind local drink. Stalls in major souvenir shops sell bottles of Tapuy in different varieties. The most popular one is the red rice wine. But, do you know the benefits you can get from drinking rice wine or Tapuy?

What is Tapuy/Tapey?

Tapuy is a traditional Cordilleran alcoholic beverage made from fermented steamed glutinous rice (red or white) and yeast (locally known as bubud). 

In Japan they call it sake, makgeolli in Korea and brem in Bali. Rice wine is a popular alcoholic drink in South East Asia. While Tapuy is the local wine in Cordillera.

Rice wine  isn't only used as a beverage but used in different cuisines as well.  Research studies conducted about rice wine suggested that it is beneficial for health in many ways.  But did you know that  Tapuy offers many  health benefits just the same? Tapuy contains essential amino acids, sugars and organic acids, as well as vitamins and minerals.


These are some of the health benefits of Tapuy you probably didn't know.

• It promotes blood circulation.
• It reduces inflammation.
• It improves immunity and metabolism.
• It serves as an anti-bacterial substance.
• It helps improve the skin's protective function or slows down the signs of aging by protecting the skin against the harmful effects of UV rays.
• It helps with the destruction of free radicals that cause cancer.
• It boosts stomach health because of  the presence of lactic acid bacteria which are considered probiotic.

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Tapuy, specially the kind that was made from red glutinous rice offers anti-oxidant benefits. A study published in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation shows that "red rice wine is a new and healthier version" of Tapuy. The pigmented rice  was used in this particular wine which is an excellent source of anti-oxidant.

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Another interesting health benefits of rice wine is its anti-cancer potential. A study conducted by scientists from the Korean Food Research Institute discovered that dealcoholized rice wine could eliminate gastric cancer cells in mice. They found out that the size of gastric tumors was reduced after the mice were injected with non-alcoholic makgeoli mixture for 7 weeks. The study suggests that plant extract used in the drink have an anti-cancer effect. (michaelrucker.com). 

So, the next time you drop at your favourite souvenir shops in Baguio, grab a bottle of Tapuy and enjoy the health benefits that comes with it. Just remember to drink moderately and responsively.