How to Cure your cold with Brandy

                                                         

Brandy--a close relative to wine--is distilled from fruit pulp, skins and juice. In fact, the name "brandy" comes from the Dutch word "brandewijn," which means "burnt wine." Traditionally enjoyed after dinner, people drink brandy in snifters so that they can place their hands underneath the cup holding the liquid and gently warm the liquor to bring forth the enticing scents.

History

Brandy dates back to the seventh century when Arab alchemists explored boiling and burning fruits, such as grapes, in order to create medical concoctions. Later, in the 16th century, Dutch traders borrowed these methods to make a wine concentrate and carry the wine in smaller quantities. After these traders introduced brandy to northern Europe, brandy production began to take place.

Types of Brandy  

Grape Brandy

Grape brandy, one of the best-known types, comes in forms including cognac, Armagnac and American. As its name suggests, this liquor is produced from grape juice and is double distilled and aged in wooden casks to produce brands such as Martell and Hennessey. 

Pomace Brandy

Grapes are also used in the production of pomace brandy; however, this brandy also uses the grape pulp, skin and stems. This type is aged less than other brandies, without the aid of wooden barrels, so that it offers a pungent, crisp flavor true to the fruit from which it is derived. 

Fruit Brandy

The fruit brandy is derived from fruits other than grapes, such as apricots and cherries, and produces a clear liquid. 

 

How to use it cure cold?

1. Boil approximately a tea cup full of water .

2. Pour 50ml of  Brandy in  a glass. (Brandy has several properties to recommend it as a treatment, such as the antimicrobial properties of the alcohol and its ability to thin the mucus built up by the cold. In proper amounts, it can also be very calming.)

3.Add the hot water in the Glass of Brandy

4.Add a tease spoon full of Honey. ( Honey is soothing for sore throats and irritated mucus membranes; it is also believed to have sedative properties and relieve coughs and stuffy noses. )

5.Drink the hot brandy just before bed to help you relax. You'll sleep more easily and the ingredients will help you to breathe more freely, cough less and ease the pain and irritation from the cold.

Ratings

Brandy is rated on a system that allows consumers to know the age and quality of the liquor and is often found near the brand name on the bottle. For example, "A.C." means the brandy has been aged in wood for two years while "V.S." stands for "very special" and means this type has been housed for at least three years. A "V.S.O.P." rating stands for "Very Special Old Pale" and indicates that it has been matured for five years, and "X.O." (Extra Old) has been aged for a minimum of six years. Finally, the oldest brandies bear the labels of "vintage," which means it is aged until bottling, and "Hors D'age" is so old that an age determination cannot be made.

[Source : www.ehow.com/how_2105283_treat-colds-hot-brandy.html#ixzz2cQdqtXCE

http://winegate.in/TYPES_brandy.html ]