History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c25.s2.t1.3

v1.c25.s2.t1.3

(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).