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The origin of the ancient Egyptian drink Shedeh revealed using LC/MS/MS

Guasch-Jané M.R., Andrés-Lacueva C., Jáuregui O., Lamuela-Raventós, R.M.

Journal of Archaeological Science 33 (2006): 98-101.

ABSTRACT: Ancient Egyptians were buried with the most precious food and drink as sustenance for their afterlife. One of these was Shedeh, the most valued and appreciated beverage in ancient Egypt. The botanic origin of Shedeh remains unclear as no mention of its raw material has survived.

 

Some scholars have proposed that Shedeh was a pomegranat wine, while others, a grpae wine. Presented here is the first ever analytical evidence of Shedeh's origin, through the analysis of a sample of a residue from an extraordinarily well preserved Shedeh amphora from King Tutankhamun's tombe. The previously developed LC/MS/MS wine markers method for archaeological samples is used, the results revealing Shedeh has a red grape origin.

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