Hungover Around The World

Hungover Around The World

These dishes span many countries, many centuries, and all levels of society; the one thing they have in common is that they’re all solutions for the morning after when a person has had too much to drink.

 

Ammoniated Coca-Cola

Around the turn of the century, the drug store and the soda fountain were one and the same; many of the cures concocted by pharmacists evolved into refreshments with curative promises. One of these was Ammoniated Coca-Cola. Combining Coca-Cola with aromatic spirits of ammonia- a mix of 2% ammonia, water, ethyl alcohol, and essential oils- the result has been said to be a cure for everything from hangovers to hysteria.

 

Prairie Oyster Cocktail

This legendary, seafood-free hangover cure is a concoction of raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, tomato juice, vinegar, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. It is served in a shell-shaped ramekin and consumed in a single swig; bartenders crack the egg directly into a glass to keep the yolk intact.

 

Umeboshi

Japanese people swear by this small, pickled fruit as an effective hangover cure. The quintessential form of this comes from Wakayama Prefecture. Plums are picked in June for highest acidity, then salted, fermented, and sundried over several summer weeks; the classic version involves pickling with red shiso (perilla) leaves.

 

Ciorba de Burta

Given that Romania has plenty of potent alcoholic beverages on offer, you can see how it would be easy to wake up with a hangover. That is where this soup comes in. Although any type of meat may be used, the classic version of this soup is made with tripe. After being simmered for three hours in water to create a broth, the tripe is removed, cut into pieces, and returned to the broth; it is then flavored with sour cream, eggs, vinegar, garlic, and sauteed carrots.

 

Khash

Tuck into this traditional dish if you’re suffering from a hangover and find yourself in Armenia, and enjoy its tasty and savory flavor. Commonly served alongside mulberry vodka, this traditional soup consisting of boiled-down cow hooves was originally a winter savory comfort food; depending on where you order it, you’ll also get a variety of side dishes such as garlic and radishes.

 

Langos

A personal favorite of mine, this savory flatbread has evolved from a home-baked breakfast treat into a deep-fried street snack. Purveyors first fry circles of yeast dough to form the crispy base, then rub the result with garlic and slathered with any number of toppings; the traditional choices are sour cream and grated cheese. The result? A sumptuous snack and a trusty hangover cure.

 

Labskaus

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p class=”MsoNormal”>This German hangover cure originates in the 16^th century when sailors and peasants had to figure out and rely on ways to preserve whatever ingredients they had; the combination of some of these ingredients into a heavy breakfast became Labskaus. It is prepared as a mixture of potatoes, corned beef, and beetroot that is served with fried eggs, pickles, onions, and rollmops.