Denpasar, In the City

Brem "Dewi Sri" Exported to Overseas

Brem or beverage made from fermented rice is one of Balinese distinctive spirits. This alcoholic drink is normally used as paraphernalia of Hindu rituals in Bali. Within later development, brem is frequently served to guests on social functions. Guests drinking it are not only the locals but also foreign tourists.

Just about everyone in the Balinese community can make brem. However, there is a company that produces brem professionally namely Fa. Udiyana marketed under the brand name ‘Dewi Sri’. This company has produced brem since 1967 and been adequately well known up to abroad. Other than being served at hotels and restaurants, the brem Dewi Sri is also purchased in great quantities by tourists as a souvenir or gift to bring back home.
The location of Fa. Udiyana is close to the Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel and other hotels in Sanur area. It is situated at Jalan Danau Tondano No. 58 Sanur or some 5 km east of the heart of Denpasar city.
According to Ir. Rai Suweca, Production Head of Fa Udiyana, the brem Dewi Sri is made from fermentation of cooked black and white sticky rice and processed naturally, without preservatives and colouring agent in traditional methods, inherited through generations. "Products of Dewi Sri have been exported to Japan, Australia and some European countries," he said to Bali Travel News.
Spelled out, the process of the making is commenced by cleansing the white and black sticky rice. White sticky rice is soaked for 3 hours and the black one for 24 hours. Then, both ingredients are mixed with composition 75% of white sticky rice and the remaining 25% of black sticky rice. Afterwards, both are cooked and then cooled down.
The next process is fermentation by means of yeast and kept for 5 days. Then, separate the fermented rice from its liquid or brem. Its rice is pressed to take its liquid, while its dregs are taken advantage for cattle foodstuff. The brem liquid and pressed proceeds are then blended and added with yeast for the second fermentation for 15 days. It is then resumed with the aging process, quality control, clarifying, sterilization and ultimately the packaging (bottling).
Also added, brem contains protein (amino acid) that is advantageous to produce the new bodily tissue or replace the devastated cells. Similarly, it is also beneficial to maintain the bodily tissues having capability of forming enzyme and hormone, regulating the metabolic process in the body and providing energy. Moreover, it’s rich in calcium (Ca) functioning to strengthen the bones and flesh as well as manage the muscle construction and nerve transmission. Other compounds contained by brem is phosphorus functioning to fortify the bone, teeth, cells and prevent dermal dehydration; Natrium (Na) to maintain the function of nerves, muscles and regulate the balance of acid-base within the body and form the fat entwining of the body and glucose as important source of energy within the body.
Other than Brem, the Udiyana Company also produces Balinese Arak. It is popular today due to its tender aroma and distinctive flavour. Balinese Arak is more frequently used during entertaining guests and best favoured by foreign tourists. "Almost all restaurants and bars in Bali provide this Balinese Arak," he added.

At the beginning it was home industry
Rai Suweca said that the company of Balinese Brem Dewi Sri was established by two brothers, I.B. Ketut Beratha and I.B. Oka Gotama in 1967. Then, effective 28 October 1968 this company officially sold its products in the status of home industry.
Since the community enthusiastically accepted this product, these brothers then made a cooperation with Ir. Ketut Buda, an expert in food technology graduated from Gadjah Mada University. Afterwards the company operated flourishingly in keeping with the development of tourism industry in Bali. Sukarmen, the Governor of Bali at that time, inaugurated this newly company in Sanur on 25 September 1976 coincided with the increasing demand of the market for this beverage. Then, in 1990s the Dewi Sri was progressively better known, either in Bali or outside Bali and even abroad. (BTN/015)