Madagascar is nicknamed the Red Island, for the color of its land. Thanks to its tropical climate and the variety of its soil, it is famous for the cultivation of coffee, cocoa, rice, lychees, vanilla and of course sugar cane.
The rum produced in Madagascar by several local distilleries, is considered the national drink and is the most consumed with beer.
There are two types of Malagasy rums. The first, toaka, is a locally made and artisanal alcohol. The second is produced in the traditional way by the many local distilleries. The most important being the Dzamadzar sugar refinery-distillery on the island of Nosy-Bé, well known for its Dzama rum which is a column distilled molasses rum.