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Weird brews around the World.
Snake wine, Vietnam
The history of snake wine starts in
China but has spread throughout South-east Asia and is especially popular in
Vietnam, where poisonous snakes are infused in rice wine (their venom is
rendered harmless by the alcohol). It’s drunk by brave locals, Instagramming
tourists and is also said to be a male health tonic (yes, in all ways). If
animal cruelty isn’t an issue for you, there’s Le Mat (known as “Snake Village”) in
Hanoi, where you can pick out a live snake, have it slaughtered to order and
are then served a flight of drinks infused with its blood, gall bladder juice
and heart.
Baby mice wine, China
China’s renowned for its interesting foods, but this one takes the biscuit: wine infused with
dead mice – only babies, though, because ones with fur would be disgusting.
It’s not common, but can still be found in southern China, where it’s usually
used as a health tonic rather than straight up booze. (For straight up booze,
try snake wine.)
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