In Southeast Asia a variety of snake wines are made. These consist of an entire snake or some of its body fluids mixed with a rice wine.
A venomous snake is generally used.
The wine is believed to promote health and sexual performance.
Term
Production
snake wine
The entire snake is steeped in wine for weeks or months.
snake blood wine
Snake blood is mixed with the alcohol then drunk.
snake bile wine
Snake bile is mixed with the alcohol then drunk.
In theory the alcohol will denature the proteins in the snake's venom. However, reports of people dying after drinking snake wine suggest ingestion of a toxin. This might be more likely if:
(1) snake blood or snake bile wine is drunk immediately after mixing with no aging
(2) the alcohol has too low a proof
The alcohol should be sufficient to kill most micro-organisms. However, other foods eaten at the same time may be contaminated.
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