n the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, “Borshch” Wasn’t Soup!?

Did you know that several centuries ago “borshch” could mean something very different from soup? Historical sources describe a fermented drink made from common hogweed ( Heracleum sphondylium ) in the lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It was consumed as a substitute for light beer, used as a base for food, and the plant was also associated with the production of stronger alcoholic drinks. In this video, we examine accounts by John Gerard from 1597, Caspar Hofmann, Friedrich Cartheuser, Jean-Emmanuel Gilibert, Alexandre Dumas and other authors to discover why the history of borshch is connected not only with cuisine, but also with brewing and fermented beverages.