Throughout history, humans have concocted some truly bizarre and unimaginable drinks. From snake wine to beer made from spit, here are a few examples of ancient drinks that will leave you astonished:

1. Snake Wine

Snake wine is a traditional beverage found in various parts of Asia, particularly in China and Vietnam. It involves steeping whole venomous snakes (often cobras) in rice wine or grain alcohol. The venom is believed to dissolve in the alcohol, making it safe to consume.

2. Chicha

Chicha is a traditional corn beer that dates back to ancient times in South and Central America. It is made by chewing maize kernels and spitting them into a container, where natural enzymes in saliva convert the starches into fermentable sugars. The mixture is then left to ferment, resulting in a mildly alcoholic beverage.

3. Pulque

Pulque is a traditional Mexican alcoholic drink that has been consumed for centuries. It is made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant, which is extracted by cutting the plant's core. The resulting liquid is then left to ferment, producing a thick, milky beverage with a slightly sour taste.

4. Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that originated in Northeast China over 2,000 years ago. It is made by fermenting sweetened black or green tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). The fermentation process produces a tangy, effervescent beverage that is often flavored with fruits or herbs.

5. Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca is a powerful psychoactive brew used by indigenous tribes in the Amazon rainforest for spiritual and medicinal purposes. It is made by boiling the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with the leaves of the Psychotria viridis plant. The resulting concoction contains the hallucinogenic compound DMT, which induces intense visions and altered states of consciousness.

These are just a few examples of the bizarre and fascinating drinks that have been consumed throughout history. They serve as a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of human beings when it comes to experimenting with different ingredients and fermentation techniques.

References:

1. Smithsonian Magazine - Strange Tales of Fermented Beverages
2. National Geographic - Snake Wine: Inside the Venomous Drink's Bizarre Tradition
3. Atlas Obscura - Chicha
4. Food Republic - The Pulque Way
5. Healthline - 8 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Kombucha Tea
6. The Guardian - Ayahuasca: a powerful hallucinogenic drug