ไทย
Another proud milestone for Nuan Chun Sato on the national stage at the prestigious 1 Community, 1 Excise Champion 2026 competition.
From a small artisan brewery nestled in our family’s ancestral rice fields in Nong Waeng, Somdet District, Kalasin Province, the Na Nuan Chun Community Enterprise has risen to regional victory—and earned a spot as one of the top five national finalists in the Community Fermented Spirits category. The national final showcased exceptional craft spirits from across Thailand, including Plum Liqueur from Mae Hong Son, Mulberry Wine from Rayong, Sato from Amnat Charoen, and Honey Wine from Pathum Thani.
Endorsed and submitted by the Kalasin Excise Area Office (Region 4), Na Nuan Chun was selected to represent Kalasin Province at the regional level. Standing out among numerous competitors, we advanced to represent our region on the national stage.
From a Local Drink to the National Stage
This marks the very first time Sato has been selected to compete nationally under the auspices of the Excise Department. Once a forgotten folk wisdom—stigmatized as an unrefined, illicit brew confined to local villagers—Sato has emerged to shine brightly once again in 2026.
In the past, Sato was long stigmatized for inconsistent quality and flavor. As a rice-based beverage with a straightforward fermentation process taking just 7–10 days, villagers could easily brew it using basic household tools. Every household tailored the flavor to their liking; all it took was sticky rice and traditional yeast balls (look paeng). Sato naturally became a quietly beloved tradition among local farmers, even while remaining strictly forbidden by authorities.
Rewriting History in the Same Homeland, Through the Grandchild of Grandpa Nuan and Grandma Chan
The wisdom of Sato brewing has been deeply woven into rural life for generations. When I first began brewing, I discovered that my own grandparents had once brewed Sato and distilled rice spirits (Lao Khao) to sell in the village. They secretly brewed beneath the large tamarind tree on our rice farm—the exact same spot where the Na Nuan Chun brewery stands today. Grandpa Nuan and Grandma Chan brewed spirits as a side business to feed their nine children. They faced repeated arrests and bans by excise officers. Each time, they had to sell the rice harvested from a full year’s hard labor just to pay the fines, only to return to brewing once more. That was until their final arrest, when officers threatened them with jail time. Out of fear of being separated from their children, they ceased production entirely. From then on, the family’s spirit-making legacy faded into silence, never passed down to the next generation.
I was raised surrounded by my parents and grandparents. Before Grandma passed away, she shared her traditional Sato recipe with me. Today, I have carried that legacy forward, building a fully legal, modern craft enterprise right here on our ancestral family land.
Today’s Sato Represents the Dignity of Isan Farmers
Traditional Sato brewing—once overshadowed by fear—had long left a wound between local communities and state officials.
When I began brewing under the strict regulatory framework of the Excise Department, officials came in to oversee monthly production and tax compliance. Though the regulations were intricate and complex, we strived to remain fully compliant. We were fortunate to work with P’Bom, P’Golf, P’Kook, and the Kalasin Excise team, under the professional leadership of Kalasin Excise Officer Weerachai Wongnanthananon. They provided invaluable guidance and regulatory knowledge, ensuring our Sato production met every legal standard with integrity.
Transforming Sato from a taboo folk tradition into a respected craft gives us the confidence to continuously refine and elevate this wisdom. We hope to inspire other local rice farmers to value-add their own grain into signature Sato recipes and share them with the world.
We believe traditional wisdom is more than localized knowledge—it is a living way of life and the pride of its people. It should never be erased by unjust laws.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Na Nuan Chun family for our shared courage in preserving this heritage, and for our dedication to crafting every single bottle of Sato to perfection.
Thank you to all our customers who support us and honor our local heritage. Your support means everything to us, and we promise to keep raising the standard of our craft.
Special thanks to the Kalasin Excise Area Office for their steadfast support and for helping us write a new chapter of history for our community. This award is more than a recognition of Na Nuan Chun’s success—it stands as a symbol of a renewed relationship between government officers and local craftspeople.
Credit Photo : Excise Department, Thailand
