Alcoholic beverages have been consumed by humans since the Neolithic era; the earliest evidence of alcohol was discovered in Jiahu (site of a Neolithic Yellow River settlement based in the central plains of ancient China) dating from 7000–6600 BCE.
The production and consumption of alcohol occurs in most cultures of the world, from hunter-gatherer peoples to nation-states.
An alcoholic beverage is a drink that contains ethanol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes for taxation and regulation of production: beers, wines, and spirits (distilled beverages).
They are legally consumed in most countries around the world. More than 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption.
Beer is the third most popular drink in the world, after water and tea.
Many plants are used to prepare alcoholic beverages.
Making alcoholic beverages - involve the action of fungi.
Mostly involve the genus Saccharomyces – - convert six glucose to ethanol and carbon dioxide - live under anaerobic conditions. - can tolerate fairly high concentrations of alcohol (up to about 14-18%) in the medium.
(Know this, fermented fruit juice), use graph, but any fruit can be used, yeast from it!
Wine:
Wine is fermented fruit juice.
The most important fruit is Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae), but any fruit can be used.
Yeasts occur on the skins of most fruits and if the fruits are mashed, the sugar-containing juices begin to ferment.
(Know this slide)
Winemaking probably began as one of the earliest of human enterprises (8000-3000 B.C.).
The wine grape was domesticated by at least 4000 B.C. Wine was used for Egyptian worship ceremonies.
The Spanish introduced grapes into California in the 1700's.
Grape flowers and fruits, Vitis vinifera, Vitaceae
Many good quality wines are still made in the same way they have been made for centuries.
However, most wines are now made by sophisticated highly controlled processes.
Grapes