Bek Se Ju: The 10 Herbs

Back in May of 2005, Bek Se Ju (Ten Herb sweet rice wine) was my favorite herbal wine.

It kicks ass over the alcoholic beverages that Westerners enjoy, until a brave enthusiast of Chinese herbs places these 10 herbs into a muslin bag and sticks it in their favorite high-alcohol beverage (vodka).

Only Jagermeister comes a distant second to this sweet rice wine.

Here are the herbs:

Licorice (Glycyrrhizal)
Said to have Aphrodisiac quality. It is believed to prevent headache and chilliness in the body.
It is also said to strengthen the internal organ, including the bowel and marrow.


Ginseng (Ginseng Radix Palva)
Its ingredient is warm and has a little bit sweet taste. It is the best-known oriental herb to the world. It is said to offer a variety of aids to the body. It is believed to offer wisdom by stabilizing the mind and improve eyesight.


Schizandra Fructus

Said to aid in eyesight, clean the body’s water system and increase sperm count. Also said to be good for cough and headache and widely used to strengthen our bodies.


Lycii Fructus(Lycium Fruit)

Said to heal internal pain and strengthen bone structure. Also said to aid in eyesight and blood circulation. This is a powerful aid for increasing a failing appetite, strengthening the body systems and prolonging life.


Hoelen

Said to ease our bodies, including the stomach system and digestion as well as distributing nutrition evenly throughout the body.


Astragalus root(Astragali Radix)

Said to help migraines.


Lycii folium

Said to have Aphrodisiac quality. It is believed to prevent headache and chilliness in the body.
It is also said to strengthen the internal organ, including the bowel and marrow.


Polygoni Miliflori Radix

Said to assist with clotting in bleeding.


Cinnamon(Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus)

Said to be good for intestines and extremities.


Ginger(Zingiberis Rhizomal)

Help circulation, and strengthen the marrow, and stop dysentery, and help digestion. Said to be good for sweating, bleeding, paralysis, vomiting, constipation, etc.

Update: March 8, 2013

Today I rarely drink alcoholic beverages. When I do, it will be a small bottle of hot saké with a traditional Japanese meal at my favorite Japanese restaurant.

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Original post: May 15, 2005 0904H
Update posted: March 8, 2013 2213H

Reference:

Bek Se Ju, Ten Herb Sweet Wine: http://wayback.archive.org/web/20051104023322/http://www.ksdb.co.kr/eng/product/herbs/herbs.asp

Ancestor Worship Forgotten by Japanese Diasphora

In Japan, ancestor worship shows respect not only to your ancestors and the recently departed, but to the family kami if one's family has one.

A family kami is the first male ancestor in your lineage, or he may be the village kami if you have a home village. If the latter tradition is present, then your first male ancestor is Chinese.

In Canada, this heritage is forgotten. If you mention it amongst your relatives, they either mock you or change the subject.

Ah, we Japanese-canadians are too assimilated! We're so assimilated we blend in.

Yet there's an awkward moment when an Asian person talks to me, and I have to reply in English, "Sorry I don't speak Chinese/Korean/Taiwanese."

Though I can still speak Japanese but badly.