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Drinking Culture
Snake Wines
Are you courageous enough to try it?
If you travel to any major cities of the far east or southeast countries, you can find opportunities to expand your knowledge of drinking certain wines such as Snake Win as a health benefit. Drinking snake wine is a rite of passage into manhood for young men and as proof of one's manliness. Snake wine is available in some restaurants as a tourist shock or attraction. It will test your sense of adventure and courage.
Snake wine has a long history as a medicinal drink going back to c. 1046 BC — 256 BC. of the Western Zhou dynasty of ancient China. Snake wine is a cure for rheumatism, hair loss, skin diseases. It can heal wounds, act as an aphrodisiac, and enhance virility. Snake wine's primary function and claim to fame are its supposed ability to add strength and build endurance in the male body. I'm guessing that the theory is drinking snake wine will allow a person to have the speed and power of a snake strike, certainly desired if you are a soldier or warrior at that ancient point in history.
How is snake wine made? There are two main ingredients, a snake and rice wine. The snake of choice is usually a live cobra or another venomous snake. The snake venom supposedly adds to the efficacy of the healing or restorative power of the rice wine. The alcohol of the rice wine neutralizes the poison, rendering it harmless. Then the winemaker may add roots, berries, and herbs to enhance the flavor or healing properties or add smaller snakes, scorpions, or geckos into the wine jar following local customs and beliefs. The pot is then capped and stored in a cool temperature and dark location to steep for a minimum of 3 months. After three months or more, the wine is ready to be enjoyed.
The three-month timeline for steeping is essential for one reason—safety for the winemaker. There are rumors that a young woman (why is it always a woman in these rumors?) who uncapped a wine jar before three months and the snake was still alive, which promptly bit her and she died! Herpetologists reportedly stated that snakes would go into a state of suspended animation even when immersed in alcohol. The snakes will be dead in three months.
For the adventurous tourists who may wish to try…
