Each year on 1–2 June, Sarawak comes alive for Gawai Dayak — the harvest festival that marks the end of the rice season and the start of a new year for the Iban, Bidayuh and other Dayak communities. And at the centre of every celebration is tuak.
Why tuak matters at Gawai
Gawai is, above all, a thanksgiving for the rice harvest — and tuak is rice, transformed. Brewing begins weeks in advance, as families prepare bottles to welcome the steady stream of guests who visit from longhouse to longhouse. To share tuak is to share the year’s good fortune.
The rituals of the pour
- Miring — a ceremonial offering led by the Tuai Rumah (longhouse chief), where tuak is raised in thanks for the harvest and in blessing for the year ahead.
- Masu pengabang — guests are welcomed with a serving of tuak before they may enter the longhouse; hospitality begins at the threshold.
- Ngajat & togetherness — as the night unfolds, tuak fuels the dancing, singing and storytelling that bind the community together.
A traditional Iban blessing captures the spirit of it all: “Gayu guru, gerai nyamai” — long life, health and prosperity.
Choosing a tuak for Gawai
Whether you’re celebrating in Sarawak or marking Gawai from afar, the right bottle depends on the moment:
- For toasting: a classic Rice Tuak, served at room temperature in the traditional way.
- For gifting: our 24K Golden Tuak Serai or a custom miniature set.
- For something memorable: the bold, unmistakably Sarawakian Tuak Lada Hitam, made with the state’s famous black pepper.
Selamat Ari Gawai — may your harvest be plentiful and your cups never empty.
However you celebrate, Tuak Atelier is here to help you do it well. Explore our Gawai gifting or browse the full collection.