We’ve all done it: enjoyed ourselves just a little toooo much during a night on the town. It’s hard not to do in some parts of the world, where social occasions are often accompanied by mass quantities of alcoholic beverages (we’re looking at you, Russia). But don’t lose a day of your trip to the after-effects of a night of drinking. Instead, try one of these great hangover cures from around the world.
Mexico’s hangover cure: Menudo
This soup, made primarily of tripe (beef stomach) with dried corn, dried chiles, and topped with raw onion and lime juice, has been known as a hangover cure for many years. Chiles contain capsaicin, which is known to be a pain reliever (even though it burns the heck out of your mouth) and a digestive and anti-ulcer aid. Menudo takes a long time to make, though, so if you’re planning on partying in Mexico, start the soup the night of the party.
Hung over in Japan? Try umeboshi plums
Samurai warriors used to carry umeboshi plums with them as a way to combat hangovers and fatigue. They’re really sour and really salty, so prepare your mouth before eating or soak them in green tea to mellow them out. The sour and salt do, however, contain lots of sodium and potassium, which can combat the loss of electrolytes from a night of heavy drinking. Umeboshi plums are also said to aid digestion and kill bacteria.
German drinkers trust katerfrühstück
Katerfrühstück is a pickled herring fillet wrapped around a sour filling like a gherkin, and if you eat some, you’ll get the benefits of electrolyte-balancing potassium and sodium and lots of omega-3 fatty acids. The translation of katerfrühstück is “hangover breakfast,” so you know the Germans are onto something.
South Koreans recover with haejangguk
This soup dates from the 14th century and remains unchanged to this day. Literally translated as “soup to get sober,” haejangguk is made with oxtail, cubes of coagulated ox blood, soybean paste, soybean sprouts, scallions, chiles, and garlic. The bean sprout roots, which contain asparagine—a chemical believed to reduce the effects of the acetaldehyde the body produces when confronted with lots of booze—are thought to be the main active ingredient in this hangover cure.
In the British Isles and Ireland, it’s all about the fry-up
In Ireland and the UK, the fry-up—bacon, sausages, white and black pudding, eggs, grilled tomatoes, and mushroom—is served with soda bread in Ireland, baked beans and fried bread in England, and potato scones in Scotland. It’s said that the grease soaks up the booze, and we suppose that works. And a fry-up is certainly more appetizing than our favorite hangover cure: McDonald’s hash browns, sausage biscuit, and a small OJ.
Have you tried any of these great hangover cures? Do you have a hangover cure you swear by? Let us know in the comments!
Photo: Shutterstock