Alright, folks, gather ’round. Today, I wanna share a little experiment I did, inspired by Tom Standage’s book, “A History of the World in 6 Glasses.” Now, I ain’t no historian, but the idea of looking at history through the lens of drinks – beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and Coca-Cola – that got me hooked.
So, I started off by picking up the book. It’s a hefty read, but man, it’s interesting. Standage breaks down history into six periods, each defined by one of these drinks. The first one up was beer. Now, the book says that the oldest recipe ever found was for beer, written on some ancient tablet. I thought, “Why not try making some?”
I looked up some basic beer recipes and got to work. It was messy, I won’t lie. I had grains and hops all over my kitchen. But after a few days of fermenting, I had something that kinda, sorta looked like beer. It tasted… well, let’s just say it wasn’t something I’d order at a bar. But it gave me a new appreciation for those ancient brewers. Imagine doing all that work without any fancy equipment!
Next up was wine. Now, I’m more of a wine drinker than a beer guy, so this was more my speed. I didn’t make wine from scratch, but I did try a bunch of different types, trying to imagine what folks back in the day might have been sipping on. I even tried to pair them with different foods, like they did in ancient Greece and Rome. It was a fun way to feel a little bit connected to the past.
Then came spirits. Standage talks about how the invention of distillation was a big deal, leading to all sorts of new drinks and even changing the course of history. I tried a few different spirits, from rum to whiskey, and learned about their origins. Did you know that rum was a big part of the slave trade? Heavy stuff, but it’s important to understand how these drinks are tied to some not-so-great parts of history.
After the hard stuff, I moved on to coffee. The book talks about how coffeehouses became these centers of intellectual and political activity. I started hanging out at my local coffee shop a bit more, trying to soak up that vibe. I even tried having some serious discussions with friends over coffee, just like those old-timey intellectuals. It was interesting to see how a simple cup of coffee could change the atmosphere of a conversation.
Tea was next. I’ve always been a tea drinker, but I never really thought about its history before. Standage goes into how tea became a huge deal in China and then spread to the rest of the world. I tried a bunch of different types of tea, from green to black to oolong, and learned about the different rituals and ceremonies associated with each one. It was a relaxing and kinda meditative experience.
Finally, I got to Coca-Cola. Now, this one’s a bit different from the others, being a modern invention and all. But Standage argues that it’s just as important as the other drinks in shaping the world we live in today. I did some research on the history of Coke, and it’s pretty wild. It started as a medicine, then became a soda, and now it’s this global symbol of, well, something. I’m still not sure what.
So, that was my journey through “A History of the World in 6 Glasses.” It was a fun, messy, and sometimes tipsy adventure. I learned a lot about history, about drinks, and about how these two things are way more connected than you might think. It’s not just about what we drink, it’s about how those drinks have shaped our societies, our cultures, and even our politics. If you’re looking for a different way to look at history, I definitely recommend giving this book a read – and maybe even trying a few of the drinks yourself!
Just remember, folks, always drink responsibly. History is best enjoyed with a clear head. Or at least, as clear as you can get it after trying six different historical beverages.
