Pop quiz!

Take a look at the following pictures:





So, is the jar:
A) Somebody's science experiment being preserved in paraformaldehyde?
B) Something to get fabulously drunk off of?


Right. When my friend brought it in, I was sure it was something being preserved in paraformaldehyde. And then he said it was a drink. I thought he was maybe kidding and trying to poison me. Then, somebody had a sip, and appeared to be still alive. Aha! Apparently, it is a drink, after all. Apparently, it is a drink from China that a student made himself, about 5 years ago. Apparently the lizard-like thing inside is quite expensive, which I don't doubt...

My host dad filled me in on the rest of the background information. Sometimes it is also made in Japan in the countryside. He has seen and tasted versions where the animal inside is a snake, or giant bees. He says that although the lizard floating in the jar appeared to have been gutted first, in Japan in the countryside they are typically put into a jar of shochu (a very strong clear liquor) while still alive. Then, marinated for a year or so. Gahh! And, it's used to disinfect wounds (!) and to drink when sick. It's about 40% alcohol.


So...did I know all this when I tasted it? No. But I probably would have had some anyways. I had a taste, and true enough it was strong enough to burn and make me quite warm. It also had a pretty strong medicinal taste, like Chinese herbs. And after I had a taste, I had half a glass. It was surprisingly...good? I liked the after warmth. And the medicinal taste made me feel a bit like I was drinking something good for me (which, now knowing how it's made, is probably not true. But hey, who knows?)