The Curious History Of Rum From The Time Of Columbus To The Present Day

Video: The Curious History Of Rum From The Time Of Columbus To The Present Day

Video: The Curious History Of Rum From The Time Of Columbus To The Present Day
Video: 13 American Colonies | US History | Kids Academy 2024, December
The Curious History Of Rum From The Time Of Columbus To The Present Day
The Curious History Of Rum From The Time Of Columbus To The Present Day
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I guess a lot of you like to drink rum tea for good health and to treat colds? Now I will tell you where this drink comes from and how it is made!

Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from the residual products of sugar cane molasses and cane syrup, which is made through fermentation and distillation processes. The clear distillate is usually poured to "mature" in barrels that are made of oak or other wood.

The famous areas in which this drink is produced are the Caribbean and South America, as well as not so much in India and Australia.

The history of rum begins in the Caribbean islands during the time of Christopher Columbus and is very much related to sugar and its production. Columbus's crew brought to the Caribbean islands in 1493 a plant that changed the economy of the entire region, as well as drinking around the world.

The sugar cane, which was brought from the Canary Islands, thrives in the warm and humid region of the Caribbean. In 1672, the drink produced from this reed acquired the name by which it is known today - rum. People living in the Caribbean drank rum to treat typical diseases of the tropical climate.

Owners of sugar cane plantations that produced rum sold it to warships that wanted to stay longer in order to protect themselves from pirate invasions. Sailors quickly became accustomed to rum for the simple reason that the drink remained in good condition much longer than beer and water, and when there were long voyages and the rum matured - its taste even better.

The curious history of rum from the time of Columbus to the present day
The curious history of rum from the time of Columbus to the present day

In the 1930s, the British Navy introduced a daily ration for each sailor, which was about 300 ml. Gradually, rum began to spread around the world. The British Isles exported rum to Britain, where it was widely used as an ingredient in various punches and where in the 18th century rum became even more popular than gin.

With the introduction of new methods for the production of sugar from sugar beet, the demand for sugar in Europe has greatly decreased. This leads to a reduction in the production of sugar cane and rum, respectively.

At the beginning of the 20th century, rum lost its position as a popular drink and was hardly used until the second half of the same century, when with the development of tourism began a large influx of people to the Caribbean, where rum is still revered.

Rum is produced mainly in the Caribbean, but in Barbados they make lighter and sweeter versions of rum. The island is considered the birthplace of the Roma. In Cuba, light, clean and sharper types of rum are made. The Dominican Republic is known for its mature, flavorful types of rum, which they make with local sugar syrup and molasses.

Imported rum is mainly bottled in Europe. England and France import rum from their former Caribbean colonies, which is further aged and bottled on site.

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