In the famous painting "The Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival" in the Song Dynasty, you can see two big umbrellas outside a shop under Hongqiao. There are rectangular signs under the umbrellas with the striking word "drink" written on them. In addition, there are two parasols under the plaque of "Mr. Jiuzhu's home" in the city, which read the signs of "drinking" and "fragrant drinking".
The so-called "drink", also called "soup" or "soup drink" at that time, is a kind of health drink with medicinal value. It is made of herbs and fruits and tastes sweet. In the history of our country, there are two kinds of drinks, tea and wine. Tea is Zen, wine is heroic, and drinking in between is elegant, beneficial to tea and refreshing to wine.
Soup drinking began in the Tang Dynasty and was popular in the Song Dynasty. Up to the Song Dynasty, down to the emperor, down to cloth clothes, everyone loved to drink this drink. The most popular soup on the market is called "Chen Er soup", named after dried tangerine peel and aged Pinellia ternata. Drinking Chen Er soup early in the morning has the effect of refreshing and regulating qi. Ouyang Xiu praised this soup in Tea Song, saying that "the theory of merit can cure all diseases, and light body and long service are better than flax".
In the Song Dynasty, "perilla drink" was the most important soup for the rich. According to the records in the book "Guang Fang Qun Pu", Song Renzong specially invited chefs, doctors and other authoritative figures to evaluate all the drinks in the world. As a result, authorities, including Injong himself, agreed that perilla drink was sweet and unique.
This soup was later studied by neighboring Japan and has been drunk until now. Because Japanese people eat more seafood, and perilla can detoxify fish and crabs, Japan has now become the largest consumer of perilla, which can not only be drunk, but also be eaten in some seafood dishes.
Soup, like tea and wine, has also become a medium of communication between Song people. It is the custom of Song people to sit down and offer tea, wine and soup.
The "Quke Soup" for seeing off guests can sober up and protect health. When the guests leave, the host presents this soup, which is not only a concern for the guests, but also a warm-hearted etiquette. Of course, when an evil guest comes to the door, the host will also serve the guest soup. What he said in silence was more than what he said in his voice. He was generous and didn't lose his body. A knowledgeable guest will leave as soon as he finishes his soup.