When you travel around the world on ships you tend to come across interesting cultures and you might end up in a bar or two to taste the available culture! I personally haven’t been to Syria but one of my pals introduced me to the above drink the other night and we had to try it out, it certainly puts a different spin on the 1001 nights. However alcohol is prohibited for believers of Islam according to the Koran, not that I know this for a fact but I have heard it thousands of times in the media, so it must be true? A quick check on the trustworthy sources on the net confirm what I have heard so it must be true! ( except for medicinal purposes apparently)
The above product made by the Syrian Arab Company for Grape Processing, has no less than 51.5% alcohol!
A type of Ouzo or Pastis which is mixed with water before consumption, fairly sweet and a strong taste of aniseed, the good people at Wikipedia have a definition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arak_(distilled_beverage)
So it may be forbidden to drink the stuff but there is nothing wrong apparently with making it, and I suppose you have to taste it to make sure it is made well? On further examination the word Alcohol is actually derived from the Arabic “al-kuhl” I don’t think they invented it, but perfected the technique and there are plenty cultures that made the discovery independently, the Romans called it Aqua Vitae, and the Irish Uisce Beatha which means the same as the Latin and becomes Whiskey upon anglification…but that is another kettle of fish, or barrel of malt whichever you prefer! Cheers.
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