Mat sim
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Sim wine (rượu sim), or sim honey (mật sim), is a specialty alcoholic drink of Phú Quốc in Vietnam, produced from the natural fermentation of sugar and wild myrtles (usually rose myrtles, or sim rừng). Sometimes, enriched wine is added to the mix.
The exact steps of its production are supposed to be secret, only to be shared with locals of Phú Quốc, although it is very similar to other more widely known fruit fermentation methods.
Also, since there is no clear definition of how to produce it, multiple differing recipes cohabit, with different end results.
Harvesting[edit]
Although rose myrtle in Phú Quốc blossom and produce fruits all year round, thanks to the mild climate of the island, the spring blossom is considered to produce the best material [1].
Production[edit]
After washing and triaging the myrtles to eliminate impurities, the top of the fruits is cut. Myrtles are then crushed, and layered with granulated sugar (sometimes rock sugar) inside anaerobic jars for one to twelve months. The exact ratio of sugar to myrtle is also kept secret.
Once fermentation is complete, the resulting produce presents as a pink wine, with a sweet-sour and slightly astringent taste. This is sim honey ("mật sim"), sometimes called "sim fruit juice", at an alcoholic strength of 10% to 14% abv.
If white wine is added, usually in a 5 to 1 ratio, it becomes "sim wine".
Further variants (using reinforced wine), can title at up to 39% abv.
The island has a handful of registered producers targeting the tourists and export market, namely Thành Long, Sim Sơn, and Bảy Gáo - though most of the production remains artisanal and local.
Other types of sim drinks[edit]
Although they may advertise themselves as such, other produces using myrtles that does not involve fermentation of the fruit are not considered sim wine - specifically: fresh myrtles soaked in wine, or stem, roots or leaves soaked in wine.
Health properties[edit]
Locals - and manufacturers - advertise sim honey for its alleged medicinal properties, including positive impact on the digestive system, reducing bloating and indigestion when consumed with seafood. There are also claims of the drink having a positive impact on almost any random types of pain, favoring blood circulation, or being good for "old bones" [2].
None of these claims have ever been proven or backed by any serious study.
Uses[edit]
Although it can be drunk as-is, sim honey is more typically mixed with water and ice (2 to 3 parts water to 1 part honey) [3].
Besides its well documented use in white wine, similarly to kir, or spritz, it can also be used liberally in cocktails.
References[edit]
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