What is "sonti"

Sonti is an Indian rice-based alcoholic beverage that is made much like sake and is similar to wine in its alcohol content and use. Sonti is made by steaming rice; to saccharify the starches to sugar, a mold, Rhizopus sonti (in sake, Aspergillus oryzae) is used, followed by fermentation.

Sonti (Kannada: ಸೊಂಟಿ Telugu: శొంఠి) is a Hindu brahmin family surname of the Vaidiki brahmin sub-caste, hailing from the ancient region of Velanadu, with roots originating from the vedic clan ( gotra) Gautamasa. The Sonti family is historically influential and well known in the south-central Indian region of Andhra Pradesh for contributions to the sciences, arts, agriculture and civil service.

Notable bearers of the Sonti name include:

• Geetha Madhuri, Artist, Singer
• Ramesh Venkata Sonti, Chief Scientist of CCMB (government biotechnology research establishment)
• Sonti Dakshinamurthy, Director of Health of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, World Health Organization malaria advisor, health deputy director of Singapore, professor of Social and Preventive Medicine
• Sonti Kamesam, inventor, entrepreneur
• Sir S. V. Ramamurthy KCIE Governor of Bombay Presidency
• Sonti Venkataramaniah (1760- ?), guru of Saint Tyagaraja, major contributor to the early Carnatic musical movement