Taste of wine and more…

I am not a wine or beer lover and do not like any other hot drinks either. I still buy wine whenever I am at an airport. If it is a hot beverage, I gift it to a friend, but if it is wine, I keep it with me. The number of bottles has increased but used less. Still, I stopped at the beverage shop and asked the salespersons which brand offered a better taste—no bitterness and not too much sweetness. They were confused about suggesting any brand. I don't remember any brand name. It has become more than just a need but a hobby.

Before I started my business, I was an occasional drinker. Later, I stopped consuming hot beverages but continued to drink wine or beer occasionally mainly to avoid unwanted gatherings and to focus more on my profession. Of course, that decision helped me grow my business. As time went on, I gradually distanced myself from wine and beer. When I began focusing more on Ayurveda and nature, I realised that any drink couldn't match the spirit that nature provides. I am unaware of when I stopped all drinks. It happened as I moved closer to nature. Anyway, I wanted to share something else. 

Recently, in a sad mood, I chose wine and beer again. I then realised that wine has a different taste depending on the time. That taste is influenced by your mood, situation, co-drinkers, and, more critically, the place. When I had it at my friend's farm, it tasted different. At my house, I had another taste. The finding was an amazing experience. I found that it applies not only to wine but to everything we consume. Tea made with the same tea powder and milk tastes different in different places and on different occasions. When I drink tea from my farm, it tastes different. The taste varies even when I make tea at home with the same milk and tea powder. It is not only the ingredients we use or the quantity that matters but also who makes it, what time you take it and how it is served. For example, I rarely enjoy tea from new-generation shops. I love the taste of tea from old shops. The preparation may be different, but everything else is the same. Morning tea has a different taste and evening tea has another. The taste varies; provided you are a coffee or tea lover, else you may not feel anything.

The same principle applies to making Ayurvedic medicine or food. Not only in Ayurveda but in almost every type of medicine, the quality of the ingredients matters, as does the place where the medicinal plants are grown. Whether it is a human-grown or wild plant, everything makes a difference. Naturally grown plants in the forest tend to provide better quality. Whether the plant is in powder form or crushed form is important. Crushed forms often yield better quality. The age of the plant and ingredients also matter. The results can vary from patient to patient, as many factors come together to determine the quality of a product.

 Today, we often overlook the simple truths behind a product. We are too busy to understand these facts and tend to blame the coffee or tea maker. Let us take some time to understand the factors behind every product we use. It will enhance the experience. For instance, when you drink wine alone to forget a bitter discussion, you guzzle it with no enjoyment, and the taste will certainly be bitter. At the same time, if you prepare for a drink in advance and call for a friend who cares for you well with a good time, arranges your favourite dishes to accompany it, opens the bottle with passion and pours it into a beautiful wine glass! Imagine it! I know the imagination gives you a mouth-filling experience if you love wine! Its taste will not be the same if you drink it with office colleagues at a business party. The wine demands a pleasant presence and cool ambience. You may try it next time and let me know.

SAJIKUMAR

https://sajikumar.co.in