Milk of Lions : A History of Alcohol in the Middle East

Alcohol has been round for nearly so long as man has. This e-book tells the story of alcoholic drinks within the Center East area throughout the ages and follows the communities which have adopted them as a part of their nationwide identities. It explores the varied cultural and spiritual attitudes relating to alcohol, with an emphasis on the manufacturing of Lebanon’s nationwide drink, Araq. Araq – or its sister spirits, pastis, raki, sambuca, mastika, and chartreuse to call only a few – traces its origins again to the very earliest distilled alcohol, within the fertile crescent that skirts the japanese finish of the Mediterranean. Typically recognized to the Lebanese because the Milk of Lions, it sits at heart desk in day-to-day life. Broader than merely a examine of the area’s favourite digestif, this quantity encompasses the overall historical past of alcohol throughout the Center East area, from early brewers in Pharaonic Egypt, via to the wine poets of the Abbasid courts and on to its reputation at this time. Written by an writer with lengthy private expertise of high-quality distilling, this fascinating account encompasses the main points of how it’s made and conducts an exploration of cultural references in literature and society at this time. A necessary companion for anybody who enjoys the magical milky swirl of iced water hitting aniseed liqueur, this quantity celebrates the cherished drink from its earliest discovery via to its undiminished reputation at this time.