The Mind Creative FEBRUARY 2015 | Page 40

Snake Wine - Vietnam Many inhabitants of Vietnam believe that Snake Wine (a bottle of rice wine with a venomous snake inside) has medicinal values. The snake is left soaked for a few months in rice wine to allow for the poison to dissolve in the wine. The ethanol makes the venom inactive. It is slightly pinkish in colour as a result of the blood from the snake. Although it originated in Vietnam, it has now spread to other parts of South East Asia and Southern China. A different variety called the Snake Blood Wine is prepared by slicing the belly of the snake to let the blood drain into the wine which is then served immediately. Refernce: http://www.bootsnall.com/ Photo credits: Bird’s Nest Soup: http://www.chinesecookingrecipes.net/ Fried Tarantulas: http://www.blacktomato.com/ Fugu: http://www.jamiechuaofficial.com/ Balut http://www.kawalingpinoy.com/ Casu Marzu: http://geniuscook.com/ Surstromming: http://commons.wikimedia.org/ Sannakji: wenitasya.wordpress.com Kopi Luwak: http://bintantimur.blogspot.com.au/ Puffin: nicholasngkw on Flickr Snake wine by Rob Sheridan on Flickr 40