The yaa dong thread- where's the best come from

[RandomChances]

Tonight I have mostly been drinking Yaa Daon form Phrae, it's a fair bit sronger tasting than the Nan stuff and not quite as tasty as the Chiang Dow stuff

Pro's:-
Gets you pissed quick, (In fact seemed to add quite a kick) tastes nicer than normal Lao Khow, may have some medicinal properties, quick and easy to do. Mainly leaves or herbs which are easy to get into a bottle and impart a taste quickly 5-6 hours and you have a passable drink. Oh the best one is your not cold after drinking it, in fact your positivly glowing.

Cons:-
Lots of bit's of stuff in your glass

"Nan" Yaa Dong to follow, initial samplings indicate a smoother drink...more to follow as itneed a day or so more time marinating

[Thetyim]

The best one I have found came from MaiSai and had herbs from Burma, Laos and Thailand. That one came in a muslin bag that stops all the little bits getting into your drink.

With the Phrae concoction the locals here like to add a jot of honey to every bottle. It improves the flavour as some of the medicinal lumps are slightly bitter.

[RandomChances]

That one came in a muslin bag that stops all the little bits getting into your drink.

Not a bad idea, does it matter what religion the bag is ?

With the Phrae concoction the locals here like to add a jot of honey to every bottle. It improves the flavour as some of the medicinal lumps are slightly bitter.

I shall try that we're on the second brewing of the Phrae one.
Did you know it's ilegal to sell yaa dong if already mixed with lao khow ?? was thinking of getting a few different ones and selling by the glass at the shop, but apparently it's a no no

The Nan mix should be good to go from tonight

[stroller]

The packs are for 3 bottles (1.5liters), to be left for a few days to 'soak'.
Good for 3 batches.

The 'Nan' yah dong I got in Phayao. I only once was given a genuine 'Nan' blend by someone who doesn't sell, but makes for own consumption. Just 2 different woods and some black resin - nice, tried mixing with Vodka instead of Lao Kao, and the liquid turned orange.

There are a few different brands in Chiang Rai, I prefer the woody, resinous ones. There's one with ginseng and ginger, tastes too much of medicine for me -but I didn't throw the brew away.

[stroller]

Did you know it's ilegal to sell yaa dong if already mixed with lao khow ??

I have seen street stalls selling a selection, displayed in huge glass bottles - it sure is possible. Maybe they're concerned that your mixed stuff won't have the blue tax ribbons?

[Skulldigger]

I enjoy my ya dong too, but that being said, I have been wondering if it really is that good for you, apart from the obvious joys of alcohol in general.

We all know drinking methanol (spirits made from wood) is not a good idea. With ya dong though, you deliberately stuff pieces of all types of unidentified wood into ethanol for a good soak.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what actually happens when the chemicals in the wood get mixed up with the ethanol? Anyone seen a chemical analysis of finished ya dong?

[Thetyim]

Did you know it's ilegal to sell yaa dong if already mixed with lao khow ??

Funny, I was told the exact opposite.
That Yaa Dong was a medicine and therefore you could sell legally.

A shop in Phrae was selling it for 5 baht a glass and the trade was brisk.
She was obviously making a good profit but suddenly stopped selling it, so I suspect that you might be right and it is illegal.

[stroller]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what actually happens when the chemicals in the wood get mixed up with the ethanol? Anyone seen a chemical analysis of finished ya dong?

I'd be curious as well, it's not like any wood would do, there are 3 or 4 selected ones, they are also used for other herbal medicines, i.e. part of mixtures you boil in water and drink.
My Thai isn't good enough and the sellers not knowledgable enough, but I'll try to find out more.
I value it for the added flavour, doesn't seem to have any adverse effects - apart from those related to the high alcohol content.

[Skulldigger]

Agreed. I generally dont feel anything negative but then I rarely get smashed on it either, I usually just have a few shots.

The only time I've got seriously shitfaced (not a pretty sight, my mates told me) on ya dong was on Samui 11 years ago. The hangover the next day had me immobilized until 7 PM, worse than any other hangover I've ever had.

I'm sure you're right about the wood and that it is chosen according to traditional medicine etc. Still doesn't mean it is necessarily foolproof (hey, I drink it ).

[stroller]

I believe there is a test-series on the effects of different brand yah-dong on Welshmen being conducted in Nakon Sawan at present.

It may be a while before he'll post again...

[RandomChances]

I believe there is a test-series on the effects of different brand yah-dong on Welshmen being conducted in Nakon Sawan at present.

It may be a while before he'll post again...

I'll probaly have a tipple of the one from you tonight. I don't often drink a lot of it and mainly value it for the taste better taste over plian lao khow
Usually if drinking Yaa Dong just have a few glasses with my BiL, he usually drinks Gaowlion (SP) or 11 tigers mixed with it both just powder sachets, but it means it's an instant drink.

The one from you was mainly wood so at least no bit's of "stuff" in the glass

On the legal side I just don't know, they recon a woman down the road was fined 10,000 bhat, but it might just have something to do with selling in in no taxed bottles?? or the fact that you never really know whats in them

[friscofrankie]

THe best Ya Dong I ever tasted was a concoction presented to me in chipped tea pot at some tiny village on the back side of Phuket.

The stuff I get here always has too much of a medicinal flavor. AS for soaking woods in ethanol, Well if the wood isn't poisonous should be OK. Not like ethanol is going to be converted to methanol by coming in contact with wood, Be a real blow to the Whiskey business if it did the flavor of most whiskeys comes from the (wooden) barrels it is aged in.

How does retsina get its flavor? Always thought Turpentine was poisonous...

[Anonymous Coward]

How does retsina get its flavor?

Pine resin. Originally put around the cork to protect the seal. Later added right to the wine because it is a preservative.

Wood alcohol is just another name for methanol; called that because it was a product of the distillation of wood.

[RandomChances]

Did a bit of back to back testing last night, The stuff from Phrae has taken on quite a taste, a bit bitter with hints of aniseed, tastes quite mediceny.

The Nan blend is a more mellow drink, good coluor seems to take quite a bit of the burn off while in the mouth but you still get a good hit while you swallow, this was the more popular of the two although on the whole I think I prefer the Phrae one.

As for the medicinal properties they both seem to be doing well except in the headache department

[Thetyim]

a bit bitter with hints of aniseed,

Did you add the honey?
That would take away the bitterness

[RandomChances]

Did you add the honey?
That would take away the bitterness

Not yet, but will give it a try and update the results