Ambonese Arrack (Sopi): Processing and It’s Functions in Moluccan Culture

Ferymon Mahulette

doi:10.15294/komunitas.v13i1.25762

Ambonese Arrack (Sopi): Processing and It’s Functions in Moluccan Culture

Ferymon Mahulette⁽¹⁾,

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15294/komunitas.v13i1.25762

(1) "Universitas Pattimura"

Abstract

Sopi is a beverage used in various traditional and religious ceremonies in Moluccas. The raw materials and processing techniques of this fermented product are very diverse. The processing of sopi has been done by the ancestors of Moluccan for a long time, but information about processing this product is very limited. This research aimed to describe the techniques of sopi processing and it’s functions in Moluccan culture. This study was descriptive qualitative research design. Data was collected from direct observations in five villages in differences islands, i.e. Mahia (Ambon island), Ouw (Saparua island), Sifluru (Ceram island), Wangel (Aru islands), and Yawuru (Kisar island). The processing of sopi were diverse in Moluccas. The raw materials used in the processing of sopi were saps from coconut, palm sugar, and coli trees, while the equipment of distillation were made of bamboo, plastic and pipe. Sopi was used in various traditional and religious ceremonies such as cuci negeri, panas pela, sumpah sopi and siram sopi. In general this traditional beverage is a symbol of solidarity in the Moluccans tradition. This research was expected to conserve of sopi processing culture to support the tourism in Moluccas.

Keywords

Ambonese arrack, distilation, palm sap, pela relationship, sopi processing

Full Text:

PDF

References

Bartels, D. (2017). Di bawah naungan gunung Nunusaku: Muslim-Kristen hidup berdampingan di Maluku Tengah. Jilid 1 Kebudayaan. Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia: Jakarta.

Borse, B.B., Rao, L.J.M., Ramalakshmi, K. and Raghavan B. (2007). Chemical composition of volatiles from coconut sap (neera) and effect of processing. Food Chem. 101(3):877-880.

Engelenhoven, A. (2003) Language endangerment in Indonesia: the incipient obsolescence and acute death of Teun, Nila and Serua (Central and Southwest Maluku). In: Janse M, Tol S, (eds). Language death and languange maintenance: theoretical, practical and descriptive approaches. John Benjamins Publishing Company: Amsterdam.

Jesajas, H. and Tumiwa, B. (2013). Reading the Pleiades star to forecast the rain: etno-astronomi of smallholder farmer in Kisar Island Southwest Maluku. Proceeding of The 3nd Annual International Conferences Syiah Kuala University (AIC Unsyiah). Banda Aceh. Indonesia.

Kakisina, O.S., Pattiselanno, A.E., Far-Far, R.A. (2013). Keterlekatan perilaku ekonomi dalam hubungan sosial: kasus jaringan pemasaran sopi di Negeri Mesa Kecamatan Teon Nila Serua (TNS) Kabupaten Maluku Tengah. Jurnal Agrilan. 1(4):1-13.

Laurens, T. and Nikijuluw, M.M. (2020). The educational value of traditional culture of â€œmasolioâ€ in Ullath village community in Maluku. As Pac J Adv Bus Soc Stud. 6(1):63-70.

Lopuhaa, A.O. and Watloly, A. (2019). Cuci negeri dan tindakan berteologi: analisis interpretasi agama dalam praktik adat di Hukurila. Arumbae. 1(1):1-13.

Mahulette, F. and Astuti, D.I. (2020).Microbial succession and chemical characteristics in fermentation of Ambonese arrack (sopi), traditional beverage from Maluku. Biosaintifika. 12(2):147-154.

Mulu, M., Ntelok, Z.R.E., Sii, P and Mulu, H. (2020). Ethnobotanical knowledge and conservation practices of indigenous people of Mbeliling forest area, Indonesia. Biodiversitas. 21(5):1861-1873.

Naiola, B.P. (2004). Studi awal terhadap potensi gewang (Corypha utan Lamk) savanna NTT sebagai sumber pangan dan minuman baru serta bahan dasar industri alkohol. Berita Biol. 7(3):169-172.

Noor, L.F., Astika, A.D. and Sanjaya, A. (2015). State of forest and community in Aru islands, Maluku, Indonesia. Forest Watch Indonesia: Bogor.

Pakniany, Y. and Patty, F.N. (2019). Gagasan akomodasi konflik berbasis pranata adat siram sopi di kawasan pertambangan emas pulau Romang, Indonesia. Sodality. 7(3):224-235.

Pannell, S. (1999). Did the earth move for you? the social seismology of a natural disaster in Maluku, Eastern Indonesia. Aus J Anthropol. 10(2)129-143.

Pattipeiluhu, M.N. (2013). Alawau amano (suatu kajian antropologi terhadap makna pelaksanaan upacara adat kematian dalam masyarakat Nolloth-Maluku Tengah). Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana: Salatiga.

Pattiselanno, J.Th.F. (2014). Tradisi Uli, Pela dan Gandong pada Masyarakat Seram, Ambon, dan Uliase. Antropologi Indonesia. 0(58):58-70.

Radiena, M.S.Y. and Leha, M.A. (2015). Pengolahan sopi menjadi minuman anggur. Majalah Biam. 2(2):7-25.

Rahman, A.J., Hermansyah, D.A., Aladjai, E., Imran, M., Alimuddin, M.R., Arizona. and Halim, R. (2013). Ekspedisi Cengkeh. Ininnawa: Makassar

Ririhena, R.E., Alikodra, H.S., Kusmana, C. and Retraubun, A.S.W. (2015). Contribution of agroforestry to household income on Ambon island, Indonesia. Int J Sci Basic Appl Res. 23(1):256-267.

Sumarmi. (2015). Local wisdom of Osing people in conserving water resources. Jurnal Komunitas. 7(1):43-51.

Titaley, E., Kanto, S., Wisadirana, D. and Mardiyono. (2018). Pela dan gandong culture as basic of a network formation for poverty alleviation in the village. Adv Soc Sci Res J 5(3): 14-22.

Wattimena, L.E. (2013). Penggunaan minuman sopi dan persepsi masyarakat tentang sopi terhadap kesehatan masyarakat di Desa Layeni Kecamatan Teon Nila Serua Kabupaten Maluku Tengah. Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana: Salatiga.

Watuseka, F.S. (1992). The origin of the Dutch word tijferen and the Portuguese tifar. J Human Soc Sci Southeast Asia. 148(2):323-327.

Wenno, I.H. and Akihary, W. (2010). Kebutuhan model budaya pela gandong berbasis pembangunan di Provinsi Maluku. Lingua. 5(2):129-133.