Alpha-terpinolene is another fruit- and plant-centric terpene, most often found in nutmeg, cypress, rosemary, mint, apple sage, cumin and lemon. Alpha-terpinolene differs from most terpenes in that it is a relaxant rather than a stimulant.
Gamma-terpinene is most pertinent in citrus fruits, though it is also found in various essential oils and spices such as coriander oil, cumin oil and celery oil it is also present in grapes, cinnamon, cloves, cumin seed, ginger, pepper and tea. The primary purpose of this ingredient is to add a refreshing, spicy flavour and scent, making it popular in tea. It also has numerous health benefits.
Alpha-terpinene is a colourless liquid extracted from plants. Eucalyptus and juniper are the primary sources. Alpha-terpinene can also be located in allspice, marjoram and cardamom.
Beta-myrcene is another terpene. This ingredient is found naturally in tropical fruits such as mangoes, as well as fresh-growing basil, lemongrass and hops. This makes it hardly surprising that this amazing compound is found in V.I.P Jiu 8.
Alpha-pinene is a terpene, the scientific term of chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants and trees.
Alpha-pinene is typically found in pine trees. Rosemary, frankincense, sage and eucalyptus all contain Alpha-pinene too, though – as do the peels of citrus fruits, especially oranges.
Over three thousand years ago the Chinese had about seventy types of musical instruments, they believe that music can purify the mind. Large instruments like the bronze chimes gave way to wind and reed instruments. The Tang dynasty was the golden age for musical development.
The Xun is one of the oldest musical instruments in China, a globular flute like instrument, it was first made from baked clay or bone, it is egg shaped, with at least three finger holes in the front and two thumb holes in the back, it has a blow hole on top. It comes in different sizes and is at least seven thousands years old.
Silk originated in China in the Yangshao culture 4th millennium BC. The oldest silk found in China has been dated to to c. 3630 BC. This silk was found in the Henan province, an area regarded as the cradle of Chinese civilization. The origins of silk production and weaving are interwoven in legends.
According to Chinese myths, sericulture or silk farming and weaving of silk cloth was discovered by Lady Hsi Ling Shih, wife of the Yellow emperor Huangdi. It is said she was having tea under a mulberry tree, when a silkworm cocoon fell into her cup, she watched the strands unravel from the cocoon and realised it could be used to make cloth, it was discovered that it took 1000 yards of thread for the silkworm to make one cocoon. She taught the people how to raise silkworms and she even invented the loom.
So an industry arose and became a important feature in the rural Chinese economy. It is thought that silk was exported along the silk road by around c 400 BC. The silk road derived its name from the lucrative trade in silk carried out along its length. For silk had became highly sought after and so the different dynasty’s kept the method of silk production a secret for a further thousand years. Anyone found smuggling silkworm eggs, cocoons or mulberry seeds was executed.
The earliest alcohol remedies in China were produced by including specific herbs in the fermentation process of traditional rice wine. The procedure of steeping herbs in the stronger white liquor (baijiu) was introduced later and was widely used during the Qing dynasty. When V.I.P Jiu 8 was first devised by the great Chinese emperor Kangxi he selected nine specific herbs to create the imperial aroma baijiu.
Herbal remedies which include alcohol as a catalyst are included in all major Chinese works on herbal prescriptions. Since the 14th century, taking tonic wines became common practice amongst the Chinese elite. The Ming compendium Puji fang contains around 300 alcohol based prescriptions.
In the 8th century, the Persians developed the art of distillation and used the concentrated alcohol as an anesthetic. Ever since then some drinks have been praised for their medicinal value, treating everything from upset stomachs, to warding off disease. By the early 9th century, alcohol was widely prescribed as medicine. Alcohol was not consumed in the same way as it is today. In ancient times alcohol was seen as an important medical ingredient and an essential part of the diet.
Moderate alcohol intake can be stress reliving and relaxing on the body and mind. It is also an effective antiseptic. The combination of alcohol and botanicals create an effective medicine that has been around for thousands of years.
Taken in moderation alcohol is known to reduce blood clots, can prevent heart attacks and strokes, known to reduce the chance of getting diabetes. Also alcohols antioxidants and trace minerals helps with muscle pain, and osteoporosis by increasing bone mineral density. Plus its anti-microbial properties help fight germs.
Having had V.I.P Jiu 8 scientifically analysed we knew it was packed full of good properties, but we wanted to know what restorative effects it had when taken in medicinal doses. We used V.I.P Jiu 8 as the main ingredient in creating toddies, teas and tisane, for they have their own benefits. Like honey which has anti-inflammatory properties and lemon which contains powerful antioxidants. The list of medicinal herbs is large and the effects of toddies, teas and tisane have been proven to aid in matters of restoring health.
So let us now look at some herbs that can go into hot toddies along with V.I.P Jiu 8 and what their restorative properties are. First of all what is a hot toddy? To keep it simple a hot toddy consists of hot water + lemon or botanicals + alcohol + honey. That is it, nothing complicated.
Some might argue that anything more than lemon in a toddy is bordering on a tisane, a tisane is a herbal infusion and may be classed as medicinal drink. One of the first writings about tisane was recorded in a medical book during the third century AD. By a Chinese physician named Hua To. He is known for making some of the earliest herbal treatments by decocting medicinal plants. Herbal teas are a beverages made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices or other plant material in hot water. The Chinese have been using herbal teas as medicine for over two thousand years.
I have taken the names by which the Qing emperors were most commonly known and have created a hot toddy in their honour. I think the hot toddy is a underrated drink and should be raised in status. The hot toddy was supposedly invented in the early 1600s in India. I am using a 250ml double handled Irish coffee glass for these drinks, but you can use whatever is handy.
“Self-portrait of K’ang-hsi” by Jonathan D. Spence.
The book “Self-portrait of K’ang-hsi” by Jonathan D. Spence holds some interesting information.
After reading the book I had learned that the Emperor Kangxi was a man who expressed himself with openness and had an exuberant curiosity and a great desire for information.
His many interests included Geometry, mechanics, astronomy, cartography, optics, music, algebra and medicine.
He developed the palace memorial system, a form of confidential communication in which officials wrote directly to him, rather than having their messages mediated through some branch of the bureaucracy, and he answered them himself. Many of these memorials, with Kangxi comments have survived.
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