Saturday, February 22, 2014

Real Viking Grog

I recently found an interesting report of archaeological research suggesting that Viking age Scandinavians consumed an alcoholic grog made with locally available substances, "including honey, bog cranberry, lingonberry, bog myrtle, yarrow, juniper, birch tree resin, and cereals including wheat, barley and/or rye" but that also often included imported grape wine.   Clearly, the Vikings were as interested in exploring ways to give their booze an interesting taste as any culture has been.

As my readers may deduce, Patrick McGovern is behind this research.  You can find a news report on the research, as well as a link to download the researchers' full article, at http://phys.org/news/2014-01-evidence-nordic-grog-scandinavia.html. I'm looking forward to reading it.

1 comment:

  1. As I may have mentioned, Dr. McGovern was my landlord, back in West Philly in the '80's. First-rate person, deserves the kudus he's getting.

    BTW, your email is bouncing :-(

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