Lanny-yap: Snake Venom Wine

30 September 2012

Snake Venom Wine

Snake wine is an alcoholic beverage produced by infusing whole snakes in rice wine or grain alcohol. The drink was first recorded to have been consumed in China during the Western Zhou dynasty and was considered an important curative, and was believed to reinvigorate a person according to traditional Chinese medicine. It can be found in China, Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia.

The snakes, preferably venomous ones, are not usually preserved for their meat but to have their "essence" and snake venom dissolved in the liquor. However, the snake venom is denatured by the ethanol; its proteins are unfolded and therefore inactive. The Huaxi Street night market of Taipei is renowned for its snake foods and wine products.

Wiki via Dangerous Minds

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30 September 2012

Snake Venom Wine

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