Snake wine give a high to Ranchi boozers

Snake wine give a high to Ranchi boozers

Boozing for Jharkhandis is no more limited to signature brands. Wine and snakes have become a hit among the city youths. Sounds weird though but infusing a venomous snake in a bottle of wine and consuming it gives an unusual high to many in the Capital.

This new kind of alcoholic beverage named as Snake wine has become quite popular among Hazaribagh youths. Snake conservator professor Raziuddin of Hazaribagh said, “The snake wine beverage is a costly drink. But it is gaining popularity among the city youths.”

The trendsetter of this drink, Jheel area cafeteria is a hot spot for the boozers. He continued that the venomous snakes are preferable for this purpose. Snakes are not usually preserved for their meat but to have their 'essence' and the snake venom is dissolved in the liquor. However, the snake venom is denatured by ethanol; its proteins are unfolded and therefore inactive.

Another wildlife preserver, DK Shrivastav said, “Madras, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai were famous for this kind of boozing. But the new trend seems to hit the State youth too.”

He added that this alcoholic beverage is produced by infusing a whole snake in rice wine or grain alcohol. The drink was first recorded to have been consumed in China.

Asked about the health hazards due to consuming the snake alcohol, Shrivastav said, “Snake venom could be fatal only when it gets in direct contact with the human blood. But consuming it gives an instant intoxication to the taker.”

“I guess the liquor permeates the snake tissues and the venom glands release tiny amounts of the dangerous substances. The beverage may have healing properties and it may make the mouth tingle,” added him. The amount of venom that leaches into the alcohol is probably significantly diluted and the individuals who prepare these substances may intervene by removing the glands.

A snake wine taker from Ranchi on condition of anonymity said, “Using venomous snakes to spike or season alcohol is considered a delicacy. It can be easily available on order for private parties.”