By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, July 17: More than 100 varieties of tuak (rice wine) from over 30 local brands are being showcased at the Borneo Tuak Festival 2026, which organisers expect to attract 15,000 visitors over three days.
Held at 11 Ridgeway along Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, the three-day largest tuak festival runs from July 17 to 19 and features more than 100 vendors offering tuak, local delicacies and cultural experiences.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said the festival has grown significantly since its earlier editions and continues to play an important role in preserving Sarawak’s cultural heritage while creating economic opportunities for local communities.
He described tuak as more than just a beverage, saying it symbolises harmony, friendship and unity among Sarawak’s communities.
“As you know, tuak is the traditional drink of the Dayak communities, including the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu. It is commonly served during the harvest festival to celebrate abundance, and it is also part of our culture to welcome guests with a glass of tuak when they visit our villages and longhouses,” he said when officiating the opening ceremony today.
Snowdan said tuak-making is learned through generations of practice, stressing that the heritage will endure if youths continue the tradition and explore ways to build livelihoods from it.
“This is why the Borneo Tuak Festival is important. It creates a bridge between our elders and young people, rural communities and the city, our cultural heritage and economic opportunity,” he said.
Snowdan cited Morrison Amy of Tuak Pedas and Raffly Langi of Tuak Alus as examples of local entrepreneurs keeping the tradition alive, with one bringing family-made tuak from Bintulu and the other expanding the business to Kuala Lumpur.
He said such examples demonstrate how traditional practices can evolve into sustainable sources of income for local families.
“Perhaps one day, we will see more Sarawakian tuak brewers taking our tradition not only to Kuala Lumpur, but also to Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo and London,” he said.
He added that vendors at previous editions had recorded sales exceeding RM7,000 over a single weekend, demonstrating the potential for home-grown traditions to grow into viable businesses.
The Borneo Tuak Festival is one of the flagship events under the wider Borneo Rice and Gastronomy Festival, organised by the BIMP-EAGA Sarawak Association in collaboration with Sago Group.
Snowdan said the festival also highlights the close relationship between tuak, rice cultivation, indigenous knowledge and the communities across Borneo that have preserved the tradition for generations. — DayakDaily
