Friday, January 24, 2014

Snake Wine - PhotoHunt

snakewine 1

PhotoHunt theme : Wine/ Vast

On a trip to Taiwan with my son one year, I brought him to the Huaxi street night market (华西街夜市) which is renowned for its snake cuisine and wine products.

I ordered a Snake Meal Set (NT 250) which has a bowl of clear Snake Soup, a small glass each of snake blood mixed with honey, snake gall, snake oil, snake belly, snake wine, two capsules of snake oil and a cup of herbal tea.

While we were waiting for dinner to be served, I was traumatised by the sight of the shop owner slicing along a snake's belly and draining its blood into a vat of rice wine. I let my son have the whole meal.

snake meal 2

The snake sellers believe that snake wine and meat posses many medicinal qualities. My son didn't like the drinks because a couple of them tasted bitter. We were told the drinks would detoxify our body, improve our immune system and cleanse our blood. My son's faces turned very red and his body felt very hot after finishing everything. Was the meal too nutritious for my teenager? :P

snake wine 4
Look at the size of the snakes!

The shop sells a vast range of products made from snakes. Tourists were most fascinated by the bottles of snakes infused in rice wine. The bottles are sealed and stored in for up to 36 months. The snakes are preserved to have the snake poison dissolved in the liquor. The more venomous the snake, the more expensive the wine.

I didn't buy any snake wine or snake products. My husband prefers only chicken and pork and would not touch any other meat. :P


37 comments:

  1. Oh no... no thank you. But I think criz might love to have a sip LOL :P

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    1. You are a food blogger, you don't want to try!? I have to pinch my nose and drink. The wine is a bit too strong for me, but it warms up the body quite fast. Was experiencing a nice warm feeling spreading through the body even though the temperature was 16 degree Celsius that night. :)

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  2. Yikes... cannot imagine eating snake.. let alone watch them slicing it... you're one brave woman...

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    1. I don't eat snake... LOL. I tried the soup and drinks to have a taste of the products, my son finished them off. The shop assistants demonstrated how they prepare the snake for the soup and drinks. Also to show the customers their snake meat is fresh.

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  3. Eeeeek!!! I love it!!!!! :) Perfect for the themes :)

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    1. The snake soup and snake wine would be good for maintaining your health. It has medicinal benefits.

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  4. Honestly I've never seen anything quite like that over here :)

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    1. You go catch a snake and I will teach you how to infuse it in wine for a healthy drink. :P

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  5. Very, very interesting!!! BUT, I have never been more happy to be a strict vegetarian :-)

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    1. I have tried to be a vegetarian but I have failed every time. LOL I do have a full day vegetarian meal once in a while. Maybe I should do it more often.

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  6. My European stomach says "Yikes, disgusting" ! But why not, we also eat snails ! I still remember your post about preparing rats for a meal, lol !

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    1. Yes, I tried snails too and no "yikes", I like them. :)

      No, no rats for me. Not in my mouth nor hang around me in my life.

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  7. For some silly reason, i thought that Texas was the only place they ate snake - which i have had and consider it good. People say it tastes like chicken and i disagree because the only meat i could compare it to is eel. As far as your son's reaction to the snake food items - that is a common reation to extra Nacin, which helps lower cholesterol. Now snake wine, i have not had, but i will tey anything once!

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    1. I have a friend in Texas, but I have not heard that he eats snakes. Gonna ask him :)

      I didn't eat the snake meat, so I cannot comment. The snake wine was too strong for my liking. I have to pinch my nose to drink it. It has a fishy smell so probably it tastes like an eel.

      Good sport Brite, come to Singapore and we go try every edible thing once. haha....

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  8. I am not sure if my comment even went through... seems as if I am having error issues with a few blogs today grrrrr..

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    1. You are the 3rd person to tell me that there is an error issue with Blogger. hmmm....

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  9. I know this is cultural, but I'm not going to touch that wine with the snake :)

    FRANKLY MY DEAR.

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  10. I've had snake soup a few times but I would never order it myself. I frankly don't care for the taste -- there are so many herbs in it along with snake meat!

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    1. Snake soup is easily available during the cold months in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. It warms the body.

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  11. Replies
    1. Take sips of the snake soup and drinks, didn't eat the meat. How to swallow the meat after watching it being sliced and cut up right in front of me? :P

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  12. ah!!! snakes!! and i wouldn't even want to go near, hahaha, not to mention to order the snake meal and have it down my stomach!! i, once, did went to a snake shop to have my char-siew rice and double-boiled soup in HK though but still fearing a snake would slither out.. :p

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  13. I would try snake soup...I think.Snake wine, I think not! lol

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  14. I would try snake soup...I think. Snake wine, I think not! lol

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  15. Yikes! Gives me the shivers but so interesting to see your photos and read about this experience.

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  16. Hi ECL, first your son is so cute. And he's one brave teen to try the snake meal and wine. I don't think I woud have the courage to try. Interesting to read how it's supposed to have medicinal benefits.

    Have a wonderful weekend.

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  17. I think I'd have trouble drinking it after watching it being prepared. Great take of the theme.

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  18. ohhh my....i don't think i could drink snake soup or snake wine lah hahahha..

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  19. I guess we are not adventuresome, we've never had snake to eat, neither have our humans.
    ....the Tabby team.

    ours: http://teamtabby.blogspot.ca/2014/01/saturday-photo-hunt-vast.html

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  20. Yikes!
    I do remember a soup that we were served at a Taiwanese wedding with a snake floating in it ... Not for me!

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  21. i cringe at the thought of being there to watch how they're prepared. even if i drink wine, i doubt if i would even give a try.

    your son is brave. :D

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  22. I admire your giving it a go! Your blog is an education to me.

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  23. Snakes?! Not for me thank you! And the soup is heaty for the body.

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  24. But I guess it's worth a try just for the sake of trying LOL!

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  25. Oh my.... I apologize, but I am so not a snake person. I cannot even look at a snake. I cannot fathom how anyone can eat or drink anything that has to do with snakes. On the contrary I do know that it is a delicacy in some countries, and I am happy that some do enjoy, just not this girl.
    Thank you for the share in any event :)

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