Wine and Chocolate


 

Ancient and Widespread

3200 B.C.E. Sumerian Recipe for Beer

 

    

 

chocolate

chocolate vessel

Anthony Mercieca/Photo Researchers Inc.

A deer statue vessel in which 1,500-year-old chocolate was discovered.

 

 

Hammurabi's code addresses beer and taverns:

  • 108. If a tavern-keeper (woman) does not accept corn according to gross weight in payment of drink, but takes money, and the price of the drink is less than that of the corn, she shall be convicted and thrown into the water.
  • 109. If conspirators meet in the house of a tavern-keeper, and these conspirators are not captured and delivered to the court, the tavern-keeper shall be put to death.
  • 110. If a "sister of a god" open a tavern, or enter a tavern to drink, then shall this woman be burned to death.
  • 111. If an inn-keeper furnish sixty ka of usakani-drink to (?) she shall receive fifty ka of corn at the harvest.

Forbidden or discouraged by some cultures

From the Quran
"O believers, intoxicating drinks, gambling, pagan sacrifice are infamous works inspired by the devil. Avoid them and you will be closer to bliss".

Encouraged by others

From Ecclesiastes
Wine is as good as life to a man, if it be drunk moderately: what life is then to a man that is without wine? For it was made to make men glad.
Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

Some cultures such as France and Italy, encourage drinking with meals is at an early age.
Others use alcohol primarily in a religious context.
Bear, wine, whiskey or distilled spirits are each the drink of choice in different cultures