Arrack
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Arrack is a strong spirit popular in East India and Jamaica, made from coconut palm sap or rice and molasses with or without palm juice. Some varieties contain additives like cannabis or datura, and it is often used to make punch essence in Europe.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
ARRACK, the name of a strong vodka popular in East India and on the island of Jamaica. Arrack is transparent, colorless or colored a pale yellow (from the barrels), and has a strong, pleasant characteristic aroma. It is prepared by fermentation and distillation from coconut palm sap (in Ceylon) or from rice and sugar cane molasses with or without the addition of palm sap (in Java, Jamaica). Some arracks, consumed mainly in places of production, contain impurities of cannabis or datura juice. During storage, arrack significantly improves in quality. In its pure form, arrack is little used in Europe; more often it is processed into punch essence (Swedish punch). "Mixed arrack" (Arrack-Verschnitt - German) must contain not less than 1/10 natural arrack and have the taste and aroma of the latter. Composition of natural arrack: alcohol 58.8%; further (in mg per 100 cubic cm): extract - 78.8; higher alcohols - 215; free acids (acetic acid) - 116.2; esters (acetic and ethyl esters) - 284.
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Cite this page
“Arrack.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/arrack/