Snake wine

Snake snake wine or brandy ( Vietnamese Ruou Ran; Chinese蛇 酒shéjiǔ ) is an alcoholic beverage, whose peculiarity is that there is in the bottle, the body of a snake. There are preferably used poisonous snakes, the snake venom is denatured by the alcohol, however.

Snake brandy was first produced in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the drink is found in large parts of Southeast Asia to Southern China. This is called the snake venom in these areas to healing effects for almost any disease. Also, it should help with erectile dysfunction. Many of these assertions, however, are exaggerated for promotional reasons. The import of snake liquor is banned in many countries. Venomous snakes such as the cobra, the krait and others are mostly endangered species list and may not be introduced for this reason.

Snake liquor is available in two versions: In one of the body of a dead snake is inserted into a bottle of rice wine. Most are located in the bottle other small snakes, turtles, insects and even small birds. The liquid with the snake is stored for several months. In the second variant is a mixture of rice wine with body secretions a snake. Usually the snake blood is used, in other cases the wine will also be mixed with secretions of the gall bladder of the snake. The brandy is drunk as a tonic in small cups.

In 1999, German biologists discovered at a local pharmacist in Phong Nha ( Central Vietnam ) in a snake liquor bottle a hitherto completely unknown scientifically snake, which they called because of their distinctive appearance Three Horn pit viper.