You must have observed in movies and shows about ancient times that alcoholic beverages were very common among the nobles. The king often drank out of a beautiful cup during his mealtimes. It comes with no surprise that alcohol, indeed, has been popular since it was first made.
Now, it comes in variety, and there are different types for each occasion. You have wines for dates, champagne for parties, vodka for clubs and beer for those stay-at-home nights.
But how did this begin?
If you search for where exactly did alcohol come from, China will be the answer. It was around 7000-6600 BC, as researchers say. The oldest aged organics absorbed and preserved in pottery jars were found in the Neolithic village of Jiahu, in Henan province, Northern China. Another notable area where such traces were found date back to 5400-5000 BC to Hajji Firuz Tepe in Iran. Other centuries and places of findings include 3150 BC in ancient Egypt, 2000 BC in pre-Hispanic Mexico and 1500 BC in Sudan. Ancient Greece established vineyards as early as 2000 B.C!
What did the drink comprise?
The traces found revealed a mixed fermented beverage. The chemical analysis of the residue confirmed that a fermented drink made of grapes, hawthorn berries, honey, and rice belonged to 7000-6600 BC. Humans also used to eat fermented fruits, so that can be where the idea of a beverage came from. Diluted alcoholic drinks, too, were popular and taken every day. Special and heavily intoxicated beverages were taken on special occasions.
What were the uses?
Earlier, medical uses of alcohol were confirmed by Sumerian and Egyptian texts from about 2100 BC. Ironically, the Hebrew Bible recommends giving alcoholic drinks to people who are dying or are depressed, to forget their miseries. In Europe, low strength beer was drunk almost every day by people of all classes, including nuns! The ancient Egyptian residents made around 17 types of beers and 24 varieties of wine. Quite a hard-working people, I must say. The uses of these beverages consisted of entertainment, pleasure, medicine, nutrition, rituals, remuneration, and funerary processes. Some also stored beverages in tombstones with the deceased as a ritual, hoping they will get to drink it in their afterlife.
An interesting thing about ancient alcohol drinkers is that the majority of them didn’t report any difficulties at all!
Would you like to go back and taste the original alcoholic beverages? Tell us below!
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