Doak tree (also known as sky wine tree) is a large tree with a diameter of about 45cm, and a height from 8m to 20m. The tree is common in Gia Lai province in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

The special feature about the plant is that it provides a natural wine.

For local residents, wine from the Doak tree is considered a premium drink.

Early January is the time when Doak trees begin to bloom, bear fruit and produce the most aromatic wine.

Local people choose trees with a lifespan of at least 15 years to collect wine. 

The distance from the tree to the stream bank is also one of the factors that determine the deliciousness of the wine.

The Doak trees that grow far from the stream will secrete less wine than usual, while the trees that grow next to the stream will produce a slightly acidic wine.

Based on the experience of locals, the ideal distance for Doak trees to produce the best wine flavor is about 30m from the stream bank.

To harvest wine from the tree, people prepare a very sharp ax, measure the distance from the top to the stem of the tree about 2 spans long, and then cut it down with a decisive blow.

It sounds simple, but this requires high precision, because the technique of cutting trees will directly affect the quality of the wine.

For skilled workers, it takes about 10 minutes to harvest 5 liters of Doak wine.