Realgar wine

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Realgar wine is a traditional Chinese drink made by adding powdered realgar (arsenic sulfide) to yellow wine (huangjiu). It is connected to the Dragon Boat Festival in midsummer and to the legend of the poet Qu Yuan. In ancient beliefs, realgar was seen as protective against poison, snakes, and evil spirits, so adults drank the wine and children who were too young to drink alcohol wore amulets or had realgar drawings applied to their foreheads or chests for protection.

The wine can be bought ready-made or made at home. A common method is to mix about 50 to 100 grams of realgar powder into one liter of homemade wine and let it sit for several hours.

Safety concerns have shadowed the tradition. Realgar itself dissolves poorly, but the realgar powder in the wine can release arsenic compounds that the body may absorb. Arsenic is highly toxic and is linked to cancers. There have been poisonings associated with realgar ingestion. Tests have found dissolved arsenic levels in realgar wine that are far higher than legal limits for liquor, although the exact amounts can vary. Drinking even small amounts can raise arsenic in the urine, and skin exposure from face painting can also lead to absorption. The risk tends to decrease as the alcohol content increases, but it does not eliminate the danger.

Because of these health risks, the practice has come under modern scrutiny, and many people discourage drinking realgar wine or using realgar on the body.