Mao Berry wine and juice are produced in Thailand from the fruit of a plant of the Antidesma genus. Trees of this genre produce fruit not dissimilar in looks to cranberries.
Mao Berry Wine
The wine is very palatable, slightly sweet with plenty of body. Rich and fruity it has hints of black cherry. At around 12% proof, it makes an ideal accompaniment to most Thai food. Personally I like to drink it chilled rather than at room temperature like traditional red wines.
The wine is high in anti-oxidants and is also said to help with controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Retailing at around 250 Baht a bottle(high tax on wine) it certainly isn’t the cheapest locally produced drink but with most decent imported wines costing double that price it does represent good value.
Although Mao Berry wine is a “non-grape” wine it certainly tastes better in my opinion, than locally produced so called “new latitude” wines made from the Chiraz, Chenin Blanc and Syrah grape varieties.
Mao Berry Juice
Mao Berry juice on the other hand is a non-alcoholic concentrated fruit juice with no added sugar. It makes a very pleasant drink when chilled, slightly tart, but easy on the palette, an ideal accompaniment to breakfast. My local heath shop sells it at 89 Baht for 600ml bottle. As with the wine the juice is claimed to have similar health benefits.
Footnote:
New Latitude Wines:
Traditionally grape production for wines takes place between the 30th and 50th parallels in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. So called “new latitude wines” are made from grapes produced outside these zones. In Thailand’s case the vineyards and wineries are below the 18th parallel.
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