The book traces the history of six drinks discovered in the history of humanity. The six drinks described in this book are critical symbols of times and beliefs of different cultures across the globe. Tom Standage (the author), traces the history from about fifty thousand years ago when the beer is alleged to have been discovered. When nomadic tribes discovered farming, they started soaking wheat grains in water. Beer was perceived as a holy drink, and many people used it in religious rituals. The next drink featured in this book is wine. According to Standage, the wine was widely used among Greeks.
People used to imbibe wine in a social gathering. Besides, the wine was used for religious rituals. Moreover, wine played a vital role in the Roman Empire. Standage argues that wine in the Roman Empire was enjoyed by all people regardless of class and status. Rum is the next drink described by Standage. The drink was discovered in America, where Europeans blended supplies of sugarcane using the distillation process. Coffee is another drink highlighted in this book. Standage claims that coffee was widely used by a movement called Enlightenment. Coffee was used to be taken in popular coffeehouses in European countries, particularly England and France.
Tea is another drink that shaped the history of humankind. The first people to use tea were Chinese. Tea was used for its medicinal and intellectual powers. The drink became popular among the Britons. The last drink is Coca-Cola. Initially, the drink was a blend of cocoa leaves and the kola nut. Coca-Cola became a dominant soft-drink in the 20th century. The drinks described in this book shapes the history of mankind. These drinks play an essential role in our culture.
