Eastern vodka-serpentine. Chinese tincture on a snake What is the name of a drink with a snake

Every self-respecting tourist who has been on excursions in the countries of Southeast Asia knows what a tincture on a snake is, the shelf life of which has no expiration date. Tincture is considered not only a beautiful and unusual souvenir. First of all, it is an excellent medicine, with the help of which some diseases are successfully treated. But most people forget that this snake product has a long history.

The tincture is part of a traditional treatment that is over 2000 years old. Doctors who actively use tincture without an expiration date claim that it can cure any ailment. To do this, you need to choose it correctly and determine which method of administration is the most effective.

Does not exist classic recipe preparation of an amazing infusion. Depending on the region in which it was produced and the manufacturer engaged in production, the composition of the recipe changes. Some add medicinal herbs(including ginseng), and some are experimenting with snake species used in cooking.

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Types of tinctures

Snake tincture, like any product, is divided into categories:

  • Therapeutic- snake tincture important element oriental medicine. Scorpio is one of its main ingredients. Add to drink and ginseng extract;
  • drinking- do not have an expiration date. Depending on the recipe, snakes are infused for weeks or months;
  • Souvenir- Emphasis is placed on appearance. The snake decorating it is beautiful, graceful, attracting attention. Most often, this is an ordinary viper, which, due to its coloring, looks noble.

There is another division into types according to the methods of preparation. The first method involves placing a live snake (scorpion) in a container with alcohol, ginseng, herbs. She is insisted in it for a certain time. After the viper is taken out, and the tincture is drunk. The second method involves killing the snake directly in front of the patient.

Tincture on the snake - healing properties and indications for use

Vietnamese and Chinese markets are filled with souvenirs of this kind. Asians sincerely believe that the drink not only helps to cure diseases. A useful property of snake venom is that it has positive influence on male potency, rejuvenates the skin, makes it more elastic. The old generation still believes that snake venom can protect against evil spirits, demons. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that the tincture is very popular even among the indigenous inhabitants of Asian states.

But experts are in no hurry to agree with the mystical properties of snake venom. After all, this is a common trick of Vietnamese merchants, designed to increase sales of the potion. Much more scientists are interested in whether snake venom can benefit the body. Studies have confirmed the benefits of drinking. Tinctures do have a number of positive medicinal qualities. They stimulate the process of tissue renewal, improve metabolism, and prevent blood clots.

A useful drug can help cope with migraines and diseases of the muscles, spine, joints. The tincture effectively relieves pain. Doctors use it in the treatment of the bronchi, lungs, as it benefits by accelerating recovery.

Patients use the infusion exclusively in the course. Its benefits are multiplied many times over. But few people decide to start taking the medicine without the appropriate appointment of a doctor. Especially if the composition contains ginseng extract or other herbs. In order for the treatment to give positive results, the correct dosage is necessary.

Contraindications

Snake tincture is, first of all, an alcoholic drink with a fairly high strength. Not recommended for use by children, pregnant women and persons with various diseases of cardio-vascular system, stomach, intestines. If a person is allergic to a standard or ginseng root, which is almost always added to drink, the use of tincture is prohibited.

Not recommended use the drug to persons who have been diagnosed with neurasthenia or neuroses. The use of tincture in combination with antibiotics is unacceptable. This tincture should not be used by people who are allergic to viper, scorpion venom. After all, for them, this drug is poisonous.

Depending on the recipe, one or more types of snake should be used. Some recipes contain clear indications of the age of the snakes used to make the drink. Sometimes adults may be required, and sometimes newly hatched young.

In order to improve the taste and increase the medicinal value of the tincture, followers of alternative Chinese medicine add herbs with a strong odor to the drink, as well as the famous ginseng. After all, ginseng has many beneficial properties. There is a drink in which spiders and small insects are added. A common ingredient is scorpion.

The snake that has been caught is placed upside down in a glass container. After that, an alcoholic drink is poured into the container. Most often it is ordinary rice vodka, which is a traditional drink in South Asian countries. But sometimes vodka is replaced with wine, alcohol. After filling the container in which the vipers are located with liquid, it is closed with a lid with small holes. This is necessary so that the snake does not die immediately. That is why snakes are caught without killing them. And although Asians do not think about the suitability of the drink, they prefer to store it in a cold place.

If they plan to use the tincture with a poisonous cobra exclusively as alcohol, then they insist it in a dark place for a couple of days. Medicinal tincture should be infused for at least 6 months!

If a viper or cobra was used in the preparation process, doctors prefer to work exclusively with a tincture aged for several years. The shelf life of this remains for quite a long time, and the benefits increase from the duration of the infusion. That is why the expiration date is not taken into account here.

The countries of Southeast Asia are quite in demand in terms of tourism, and those who have visited Vietnam or China at least once are most likely familiar with such an alcoholic drink as a snake. This exotic product is used by residents different countries in great demand.

The basis of the drink is a poisonous snake placed in a bottle, the poison of which dissolves in alcohol. Cobra venom (this snake is often used for cooking) is believed to bring health benefits.

Useful properties and dosage

A bowl with a snake has long been a symbol of medicine. Doctors and healers of the East have always known that many diseases are healed with snake bile and blood. Asians claim that the use of tincture increases tone and sexual desire. For smokers, especially those with a long history, this drink is also useful, since snake bile is good for coughing.

Outwardly, some versions of Chinese vodka with a snake may not look very attractive and even cause rejection: a liquid with a yellowish tint in which there is a poisonous snake. Bottles may contain scorpion, salamander, gecko, seahorses, ginseng, other medicinal plants and components. It is actually a traditional vodka made from rice and infused with reptiles.

It is believed that the drink helps with various health problems:

  • in the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis (they drink or rub the sore spot);
  • in the restoration of the central nervous system;
  • increases testosterone levels;
  • strengthens the immune system;
  • relieves fatigue;
  • has an expectorant effect;
  • accelerates cell growth;
  • promotes regeneration and gives a rejuvenating effect.

Snake venom dissolves and neutralizes when infused in alcohol. At the same time, medicinal substances are preserved. Snake venom has a protein base, so a sufficiently long contact with ethylene completely deactivates the dangerous substance.

Features of Chinese and Vietnamese tincture

Depending on the region or country, the tincture recipe may vary, but the principle itself is the same. The reptile is first placed in a separate container. The snake is aged for several weeks to get rid of excrement. After that, it is washed, put in a glass container and poured with vodka. Sometimes they use . After 5 days, the bottle is opened, the snake crawls out, trying to breathe air. At this moment, you need to have time to put the royal scorpion in her throat.

While the reptile is alive, its organs produce active substances with a vengeance. As a result, bile and poison are thrown into the tincture, which are subsequently neutralized by alcohol. The beneficial properties of these substances are preserved and the drink becomes a medicine.

Vodka from China has a not very pleasant specific smell, rich texture and yellow color. Used for tincture different types snake, most often it is a cobra. The reptile can be either alone or with small snakes. In addition, the drink is prepared with berries, ginseng root and other medicinal plants. There are options with insects. For example, in Harbin they put autumn flies in the tincture, in the central regions of the country - wasps.

The highest quality vodka, which is even recommended by the Chinese Ministry of Health, is produced in Jilin Province. All ingredients and the recipe are kept in the strictest confidence. The drink is quite in demand among the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom. It has been made for more than a century. Snake extract has always been highly respected and loved by all Chinese emperors.

There is another version of the drink - bile, snake blood and other components are simply added to or vodka. Such a cocktail is drunk in one gulp. Components from the reptile are taken while it is alive.

In Vietnam, an exotic drink is insisted on snakes, and they also make soft, fragrant, palatable cane rum with cobra. Used as a remedy for various diseases internal organs. The recipe for vodka, in addition to snake venom, includes all kinds of ingredients for aroma and aftertaste: insects, young mice, lizards, barberry, spices. The salamander is used to make rum.

Snake tincture with leaves, roots and flowers of plants has a pleasant delicate aroma. Dried or fresh medicinal plants make the tincture even more useful, endow it with antibacterial and tonic properties. Drinks are infused for several months in a warm, dry room. The product has valuable medicinal properties. Chinese and Vietnamese tinctures are sold in pharmacies of producing countries.

Instructions for use

Drink tincture on the snake 30-50 ml per day in small sips, focusing on the taste. The dosage is obligatory, otherwise the medicine may turn into poison. The taste of the drink may be different, depending on the method of preparation.

There were cases when a snake in vodka remained alive for a long time. Therefore, it is recommended to be attentive and careful when opening the bottle. When the product runs out, the container can be refilled with vodka and the contents are infused for 1 month.

Contraindications and possible harm

A drink with a snake and a scorpion must be infused for a long enough time so that the poison in them has time to neutralize. If the preparation technology is violated, neutralization may not occur, and the effect of taking such a medicine will not be entirely pleasant. Death from the drink will not occur, since the gastric juice will surely dissolve the poison, but the state of health can deteriorate greatly. To avoid such troubles, you should purchase goods from trusted sellers.

Snakes are tenacious reptiles, able to remain viable for several months, despite being completely immersed in water. alcoholic drink.

A poisonous snake, waking up from hibernation, can bite a person who opens a bottle, as a result of which a fatal outcome is not ruled out. Snake extract is a potent remedy, it is strictly forbidden to take it in large doses. The remedy is contraindicated for children and pregnant women. Do not use snake extract during breastfeeding.

China is known for its alcohol culture and the country offers a wide variety of drinks. Many tourists are attracted by a kind of souvenir - Chinese vodka with a snake. On the shelves you can find other alcohol, which differs in strength and technology of preparation. Consider all the features and varieties of Chinese vodka.

Vodka with a snake

Vodka with a snake inside appeared about two thousand years ago. Sources indicate that the first mention of the drink is found in treatises from the second century AD. There is a legend of the creation of vodka. It is believed that in ancient times, a girl was cured of leprosy by drinking wine, which accidentally got a snake. For this reason, vodka with a snake is credited with a lot of healing qualities.

Chinese healers claim that snake bile and blood are incredibly useful, with their help you can get rid of any disease. If you drink this alcohol tincture, then you can increase vitality and even increase potency. It is believed that the "serpentine" relieves the following ailments:

  • arthrosis, arthritis, joint problems;
  • problems with the central nervous system;
  • weak immunity;
  • difficulty remembering information;
  • coughing.

Locals are sure that Chinese vodka relieves fatigue, rejuvenates the skin, and increases testosterone levels.

Reference! The export of the “serpentine” is illegal in many countries. Sometimes snakes are used to produce vodka, which are listed in the Red Book and their extermination is pursued.

Features of the snake vodka recipe

The crafting recipe varies depending on the region, but the general scheme is the same. A live snake is kept in an empty container for several weeks, during which time the animal gets rid of excrement. Then the reptile is placed in a bottle, filled with strong alcohol. The snake is still alive during this period. Sometimes herbs are added. A bottle with a snake is infused from two months to a year.

What are the varieties of snake vodka?

Drinking tincture

In this case, it is not the snake that is infused with alcohol, but its entrails, bile or blood. The drink can be drunk, it tastes quite pleasant, it may differ in peculiar aromas. Another way to prepare the tincture - the body of the cobra is cut, its juices are added to the container with the drink just before use.

With rice vodka

A snake placed in a glass vessel is poured with rice vodka. Sometimes several snakes are placed in the vessel.

Reference! Snake venom is neutralized under the influence of alcohol, but at the same time it retains its beneficial features. Prolonged contact with alcohol deactivates the poison, as it has a protein base.

Vodka with ginseng and snake

In China, vodka is considered traditional, it has a special composition. Main components:

  • Scorpion
  • Barberry
  • Cobra
  • rice vodka
  • Ginseng

How is it prepared? A live snake is placed in a bottle filled with rice vodka. The bottle itself is closed with a porous cork that allows air to pass through. The snake at this time is in a coma, so it is kept for 5 days. The organs of the snake at this time produce healing substances. After five days, the bottle is opened, the animal takes a breath of air. At this moment, with the help of tweezers, they put the scorpion in the neck. After that, the bottle closes tightly, this time tightly. A kind of drink is infused for at least six months.

Dangers of snake vodka

If vodka is prepared in compliance with all technologies, then it is not dangerous. Alcohol must be of high quality, otherwise there are a number of threats.

1. The snake belongs to tenacious creatures, it dies for a long time, it can fall into a kind of coma. If the vodka was not kept for the right time or low-quality alcohol was used, then the reptile can “resurrect”. There are recorded cases when snake bites from a bottle led to death.

2. If the technology is not followed, snake venom may not completely decompose. Some of its dangerous properties will remain. It is unlikely to die from this, but it is possible to get sick.

Reference! China has statistics on accidents after steeping vodka with a snake. For example, in 2009, a man died after being bitten by a tiger snake, which he insisted on for about two months. Similar cases are recorded every year, not all of them are fatal.

Chinese vodka Maotai

Worldwide, Maotai is one of the strongest alcoholic beverages. For the manufacture of used cereal plant kaoliang. Vodka got its name in honor of the town located in the Guizhou region. Today there is a large enterprise for the production of the drink.

Maotai is one of the most expensive vodkas that can be found in China. Its price is within $ 750 per bottle. But despite the price, Maotai is in demand both among the local population and among tourists.

The strength of the Maotai product is 54 degrees, while alcohol does not upset the stomach and does not quite hit the head. Maotai is recognized as the Chinese national drink, such vodka should be present at any banquet.

One of the secrets is the fertile soil and the climate of the settlement where the drink is produced. About 7 thousand people live in the village. Half of the people are employed in the production of local alcohol.

The production process of local vodka takes about 5 years. Each stage of production lasts a certain amount of time. So, the initial stage lasts nine months. Production scheme:

  1. Grain is poured into the container, after 30 days it is distilled. The event is held 8 times over several months.
  2. The resulting mixture is stored in the basement for three years.
  3. Then the production process continues, the drink is sent for storage for another year.

Thanks to this intricate cooking scheme, Maotai is distinguished by its softness, aroma and pleasant taste. The taste of an unusual product is also appreciated in Europe. In 1986, in Paris, the original spirit received three gold medals. The product began to be considered a unique class of alcohol. Maotai was also awarded at other international exhibitions.

White alcohol

Another variety of Chinese alcoholic products is popular - Baijiu. The drink is classified as strong. The strength of white alcohol is 60 degrees, and sometimes the mark reaches 70 degrees.

According to the annalistic data, Baijiu has been leading its history for four thousand years. The main raw material for this product is cereal sorghum. Other cereals are also used, in particular corn, wheat, kaoliang. The drink is not common outside of China, it is not in great demand because of its high strength. In addition, the product has a specific smell, which complicates its tasting.

So, Chinese vodka is very specific, it differs from the usual alcohol. Drinks are exotic, unusual taste. Not all alcohol can be tasted outside of China, some varieties are found only in this state. Chinese alcoholic products should be tasted by all connoisseurs of elite drinks. It is important not to fall for a fake, as some products can be hazardous to health.

Snake Wine April 16th, 2014

One of the exotic types of alcoholic beverages common in the world is snake wine. A feature of this low-alcohol drink is the poisonous snake that is in the bottle.

Let's take a closer look at this topic...

Vietnam is considered the birthplace of snake wine, it was there that the tradition of its preparation arose. The first information about the use of the drink was recorded during the reign of the Zhou Dynasty. Since then, this wonderful recipe has spread throughout Southeast Asia, where it reached the peak of its popularity.

Poisonous snakes are used as raw materials for making this unusual wine. The drink is prepared by infusing "creeping" in solvents such as alcohol or rice vodka. Depending on which of them is taken as a basis, the wine acquires its aroma and taste. The price of wines is also different, it is easier to buy a drink made from alcohol than to get one infused with rice vodka with a delicate aroma and mild taste.

Snakes, being the main ingredient of this unique drink, are valued not for their meat, but for snake venom, which dissolves in alcohol. The poison, which is part of the drink, is denatured with ethanol, so it is considered safe for health.

Wines with snakes are divided into two types. The first one must be consumed fresh (within 24 hours, the natural liquids of poisonous snakes insist on alcohol). Second, they insist for a long time in well-corked bottles and are served on the table only on special occasions.

An interesting fact is that in addition to the snake, several scorpions or lizards can be found in this wine. Such an unusual “interior” of a bottle of wine is decorated with various medicinal herbs and roots.

The use of poisonous snakes in the drink is not carried out for the sake of their meat, the main role is played by their smell, taste and poison, which dissolve in alcohol over a certain time. Ethyl alcohol neutralizes the poison and the latter becomes safe.

By the way, in a container with wine there may be not one snake, but several small snakes at once, accompanied by a lizard or a scorpion. A variety of medicinal herbs and roots serve as an “interior”, which are selected specifically to enhance the healing effect of wine. Depending on the herbs chosen for the infusion, the drink can acquire antibacterial, tonic, vitamin or strengthening properties.

Herbs in the drink can only be selected by specialists, because their role in the taste of wine is quite significant. The tonic, therapeutic and antibacterial effect of this low-alcohol drink largely depends on the roots and medicinal plants.

It is very important to know how to use this exotic drink correctly, otherwise it can be very poisonous. It is best to drink the tincture with a teaspoon at the rate of one every few days.

For those who have a desire to try the drink, but are not entirely sure of its safety, experts recommend diluting the wine with tea. This option is suitable for a drink infused with the addition of herbs and roots, otherwise the wine diluted with tea will acquire a strong specific smell.

You can buy snake wine only in Vietnam. You won’t have to look for it for a long time, since bottles with this drink act as a souvenir. They may have various sizes, to be the smallest and contain one, but very poisonous snake inside, and the largest inside of which you can count about a dozen snakes.

Snake wine, according to manufacturers, can be used in the treatment of many ailments, but still experts believe that many of its medicinal properties are exaggerated to attract potential buyers.

There are two varieties of snake wine:

* Fermented: A large venomous snake can be placed in a glass jar of rice wine, often with many small snakes, turtles, insects and birds, and left as such for several months. Wine is consumed in small piles.

* Mixed: The body juices of the snake are mixed with wine and consumed directly, preferably in small shots. Snake blood wine is made by pouring snake blood from an incision into a glass and then mixing it with rice wine or alcohol.

The tradition of making and drinking snake wine originated in Vietnam and spread throughout the region of Southeast Asia and southern China. It is widely believed to have medicinal properties and is often advertised for treating everything from farsightedness, to hair loss, as well as to increase sexual potency. However, many of these claims appear to be exaggerated in order to attract buyers. Today, snake wine is illegal to import into many parts of the world, including the United States, as cobras and many other snakes are often endangered.

Why is wine with snakes, scorpions and lizards so useful in Vietnam? Maybe the fact is that the snake is considered a symbol of wisdom and longevity, and drinking snake infusion means getting its strength.

The healing properties of snakes, especially poisonous ones, have been known for centuries. For example, in France until the 18th century, viper meat was very popular due to its beneficial effects on health and appearance. The notorious Madame de Sevigne, who received the title of Marquise from Poitou and is described in The Adventures of Angelique, advised her daughter to sit on a "viper diet" for one month a year. The viper can be skinned and gutted, after which, if desired, boil with herbs, stuff the capon with it, cook broth from it, make aspic, cook oil, etc.

Snake meat is believed to relieve rheumatic pains and nourishes the blood, while boiled snake skin is a panacea for the treatment of sore eyes.
By the way, almost everywhere Chinese bartenders (they are also cobra tamers) add snake blood to their signature drinks. You can buy a half-liter bottle of real cobra wine for $40, or if you're lucky, you can buy a bottle of twice the volume for much less. The price range for snake wine is wide.

The wine is believed to have medicinal properties and is often advertised for treating everything from farsightedness, to hair loss, to increasing sexual potency. However, many of these claims appear to be exaggerated in order to attract buyers. Today, snake wine is illegal to import into many countries around the world, including the United States, because cobras and many other snakes are often endangered.

Everyone who has visited the countries of Southeast Asia at least once in their life is probably familiar with such an unusual tincture as vodka with snakes, better known as "snake elixir". This amazing and unusual alcoholic drink for us is very popular among Asians!

The basis of this miracle tincture is a poisonous snake placed in a bottle. However, the main feature of the "elixir" is cobra venom dissolved in alcohol. After all, there is an opinion that snake venom is good for the body. As for safety - after all, people have, in fact, to drink vodka with poison - then harmful substances are neutralized by alcohol during infusion.

In China, Vietnam and Cambodia, snakes have long been important symbols medicine. The blood of a reptile, as well as its bile and the poison itself, according to Eastern healers, can cure any ailment. True, it should immediately be stipulated: useful tinctures are sold in pharmacies and, like any medicine, have a number of indications for use. Such tinctures are prepared by alcoholizing poisonous and non-venomous snakes in a certain proportion, and sometimes only their internal organs are used.
These drugs of yellow-brown color look very peculiar and unattractive.

But with market and store products, the situation is somewhat different: at the bottom of curly bottles, striking the imagination of tourists, globules of swollen cobras and vipers flaunt.
Each bottle contains at least one snake, but sometimes their number reaches 10.

Merchants, in turn, enthusiastically talk about the miraculous properties of the potion: they say, after drinking a cloudy liquid swaying around the pickled carcass, you will be healed of all ailments. However, tourists are seduced not by these tempting promises, but by the frightening appearance of the "elixir".

However, for sure only a few know how such tinctures are made. Often a live snake is put into a bottle, filled with alcohol and closed with a porous cork so that the under-pit suffocates not immediately, but, so to speak, languishes in alcoholic vapors, highlighting all sorts of useful for human body substances. This process is very long, so that, having uncorked the drink, there is a risk of finding a half-dead drunk asp, hungry to bite the liberator. There are precedents.

In Japan, the alcoholic drink habu sake is quite famous. This exotic drink is also not for the faint of heart, as it is infused with poisonous snakes hub. The best vodka is made from snakes caught in the mountains of Ibuki.

Many tend to believe that snake tincture rejuvenates and improves potency. In addition, it has high tonic properties, invigorates, increases blood pressure and thins the blood, eliminating blood clots and toxins. AT medicinal purposes it is used externally for the treatment of joints, osteochondrosis, etc.

By the way, according to science, it is supposed to drink tincture on snakes in very small doses - 20-30 ml each, and add vodka to the bottle so that it continues to infuse.