Who made wine from poisonous Heracleum?
score:1
The major chronicler of colonial Kamchatka, Krasheninnikov, wrote in Vaughan's translation:
The Russians almost as soon as they reached this country, realized that spirits could be made from it; and today the Imperial Treasury sells nothing else.... The women who prepare this plant wear gloves, because the sap is so poisonous it causes serious swelling wherever it happens to touch one.... The first spirits which are distilled are as strong as ordinary vodka. If this is distilled a second time, it becomes so strong that it will corrode iron.... Even when someone drinks it in small quantities, he will be tormented all night long with wild terrifying dreams, and the next day will still experience a sense of unease and agitation, as profound as if he had committed some crime.
I conclude that the Heracleum liquor was the product of Kamchadal foraging and Russian distilling practices. Whether anyone is still making this product today, I hope to learn in a comment.
PS. Krasheninnikov lifted the part about crime from the report of his colleague Steller.
Upvote:5
“The northern group of nationalities, especially the Itelmen of Kamchatka, had had another stimulant - wine from 'sweet herb'. The secret of its production passed from them to Russian Cossacks and sedentary Koryaks in the 16th and 17th centuries. For making wine Itelmens used the 'sweet herb' Heracleum dulce Fisch. sem. Umbelliferae). For making grass sugar and wine were used young spring stems, which were usually gathered by women. To avoid the influence of the poisonous juice of the plant they put on gloves. The stored bunches of stems were put in grass bags and kept there until sugar was educed on the stems. Grass sugar was used for making various kinds of Itelmen dainties, beverage, etc. Sometimes the 'sweet herb' was eaten, like betel, in its fresh natural state. The effect of its chewing was similar to that of alcoholic intoxication. The 'sweet herb' was mostly used for making wine.” (Gordon Wasson 1968, Soma: Divine mushroom of immortality, p.337)
Follows a description of how its made.
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