North Korea may have what is arguably one of the most oppressive societies on Earth, what is definitely an atrocious human rights record and what is possibly a hydrogen bomb, but now the country is also claiming to have the one thing everyone wants: hangover-free alcohol.
That's right: after years of experimenting, the Pyongyang Times recently reported that Taedonggang Foodstuff Factory had perfected the recipe for ginseng alcohol, using scorched glutinous rice over sugar to eliminate both a bitter taste and a miserable morning-after headache, according to The Guardian.
“Koryo Liquor, which is made of six-year-old Kaesong Koryo insam [ginseng], known as being highest in medicinal effect, and the scorched rice, is highly appreciated by experts and lovers as it is suave and causes no hangover,” The Guardian quoted the article as saying.
You heard 'em: causes no hangover. Highly appreciated by experts and lovers. Suave.
There are, of course, naysayers who have been quick to question North Korea's claim, perhaps because the country has also reported on ginseng's power to cure MERS, SARS and AIDS. Andray Abrahamian, director of research at Choson Exchange, a company which supports entrepreneurship in North Korea, shared his skepticism with The Guardian.
“There are some high-quality liquors made in North Korea, though in my experience there is no such thing as hangover-free booze anywhere in the world,” he said.
While we can accept the fact that hangover-free alcohol probably doesn't exist, there is one truth upon which we can all agree: a 1999 Korean News Agency article referred to ginseng liquor as “the elixir of life”. We can't believe we're saying this but yes, North Korea, we agree.
[Photo via The Guardian]
