Book of the Week: Drunken Botanist
18 Nov 2013
The Drunk Botanist by Amy Stewart describes the relationship between people, alcohol and plants. All civilizations have figured out how to make alcohol from plants. Booze is what brings us all together. If it is a plant, there is probably an alcoholic beverage derived from it.
- Pechuga mezcal uses a raw chicken breast
- Apples are genetically diverse
- Adding a splash of water to whiskey and absinthe causes molecules to be released from alcohol.
- Sorghum is the most consumed alcoholic plant
- If you mess up distillation, consequences can be deadly
- Real vanilla is complicated
- Dogfish Head makes a cacao beer called Theobroma
Universality One reason that all civilization developed alcoholic beverages is that those who don’t, do not survive. Accessible water sources are generally dirty and dangerous. I am lucky to live in a part of the world with enough drinkable water that I can poop into it. The alcohol from fermentation kills off bad bacteria, making the water drinkable. I need to travel more. There are many types of liquor out there waiting for me.