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History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c25.s2.t1: III. Technicalities Associated with Preparation of

History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c25.s2.t1

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III. Technicalities Associated with Preparation of

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(a) beer (surā) from cake and

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(b) vinegar (amla).

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(a) Surā from cake (puvc surā). The Buddhist text in course of discussion about five kinds of Surā, refers to surā from cakes (VP. IV.110). The technicalities involved in this preparation is not discussed. This can be substantiated from ancient practice of preparation of ‘beer-bread’ prevailing in Near Eastern countries. Germinated cereals and hulled fruit soaked in water (added salt or lye) dried, ground and given the shape of a cake which was called bread. Brewing was performed by soaking it in water and subjected to fermentation with the aid of yeast (Forbes 1965, pp. 65-67).

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(b) Amla (Vinegar, acetic acid): Kauṭilya refers to two types of amla-preparation, derived from fruit-juice and phalāmla and from molasses (amla-sidhu). Fermentation in this preparation was made for a longer period so that product became sour. Kauṭilya states these as home-made products (AŚ.II.25)

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*General Principle of Preparation of Different Substances*

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The ferment generally constituted 1:2 or 1:5 ratio of the weight of the principal substance. Kautilya formulated proportions of different substances for a particular variety of intoxicating drink.

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Names of Surā(beer) (AŚ.II.25, Rām, Bāla, 53.2; Sund. 2.22-23)

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Medaka (spiced rice beer),

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Prasannā (spiced barley or wheat bear),

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Āsava (sugar cane beer),

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Āriṣṭa (medical tincture),

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Maireya (fermented liquor from treacle, decoction of bark of mesasrngi, and three myrobalans)

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Madhu (grape beer).

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These were some of the popular drinks during this period.

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The varieties of fermented liquors envisage knowledge about different fermentation processes developed during this period. On all probability the techniques came from outside either through foreigner’s visit or from trade-contact.

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