What Hangover Cures look like around the World

 So you’re travelling to a different country for a bit of a well-deserved holiday. Whether you intend to party hard or not, it’s bound to happen. BUT what happens when you wake up the next morning with a terrible hangover and realise your usual remedy isn’t available?

We searched and found out what different people around the world consider to be the best hangover cure…

(Be warned these are pretty strange)

1.       Prairie Oyster – USA

Ingredients: Tomato juice, one raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and a dash of Tabasco.

Does it work? The tomato juice is rich in vitamin C and fructose, the egg has a lot of protein and the ability to step up your liver function and help your poor body break down those toxins faster.

     2.       Balut – Philippines

Ingredients: A poached fertilised duck embryo.

Does it work? It sounds grim, but eggs contain lots of cysteine which breaks down the hangover-causing toxin in the liver. I’d rather stick to bacon and eggs though!

     3.       Sparrow Droppings in Brandy - Hungary

Ingredients: You heard us!

Does it work? Well, this cure could actually do more wrong than right as you could be ingesting parasites, bacteria or diseases into your body. The brandy may postpone the alcohol withdrawal, but it’s best to steer clear of this one if you’re in Hungary.

     4.       Pickled Sheep Eyeballs in Tomato Juice – Mongolia

Ingredients: A pair of sheep’s eyeballs in tomato juice.

Does it work? The tomato juice will help the liver get rid of the alcohol from your system, but I don’t know how the eyeballs help!

     5.       Buffalo Milk – Namibia

Ingredients: Clotted cream, cream, two different rums and crème liqueurs.

Does it work? The cream will line your stomach and the excessive amount of alcohol will just postpone your hangover until later.

     6.       Sheep Lungs and Owl eggs – Ancient Greece

Ingredients: Sheep lungs and two owl eggs – hopefully cooked!

Does it work? Sounds pretty disgusting but back in the day this cheap protein probably worked wonders because of all the vital amino acids.

     7.       English Fry Up – UK

Ingredients: Fried bacon, eggs, sausage, toast, tomatoes, mushrooms sometimes with black pudding, hash browns and baked beans.

Does it work? The giant heap of protein, fat and salt will help your suffering liver to recover and replenish your lost electrolytes. Apparently a recent study showed that this is one of the best hangover cures!

What do you consider to be the best hangover cure? And does it actually work?

Whether you have a hangover or not, getting to and from the airport can be a real hassle. If you're looking for a shuttle service that can get you to and from the airport contact Airport Shuttle in Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg today! 

Hangover cures from around the world

If you are a keen traveler and you’re planning your next trip, keep in mind that it’s a good idea to know what the best local hangover cure may be. You never know if you’re going to end up at one of the neighbourhood hangouts or parties. So be prepared for the next day!

United Kingdom: Bacon Sandwich
This sandwich has got it all – carbs, grease and animal fat! It is basically the holy trinity of hangover cures and many British folk swear by it. They recommend that the bacon sandwich is best served with sauce and in the comfort of your own bed. Even scientists at the University of Newcastle support the effectiveness of the age-old treatment, and I may not be a scientist, but bacon never fails to make anyone smile!

Alternative – Another long time British hangover cure is a full English breakfast which includes bacon, sausage, eggs, black pudding, fried bread or toast and plenty of baked beans.

Japan: Pickled Plums
Pickled Plums or otherwise known as Umeboshi is believed to help digestion, liver function and prevent nausea. These seriously sour plums deliver a punch in the mouth, but they are one of Japans favourite snacks. If you can manage to scoff one in the morning when you wake up, you will soon be on the road to recovery.

Alternative – Get your kidneys back online with the Japanese Gatorade called Pocari Sweat. It rehydrates you and replenishes your supply of potassium and magnesium.

China: Green Tea
You may think that green tea is only for the super health conscious, but in China this herbal hangover cure is an absolute favourite for those suffering from a hangover. Some people in China even claim that it can prevent cancer, treat multiple sclerosis and stop Alzheimer’s disease.

Alternative – Congee is a well-known dish in China, it’s basically just a rice porridge that is believed to help by rehydrating those with a hangover.

Germany: Pickled Herring
People in Germany prefer to get over their alcoholic binges by eating some pickled fish, the main ingredient in the snack called “rollmops”. The preserved herring fillets are wrapped around gherkins or onions and served as part of Katerfrühstück (hangover breakfast) which is thought to restore all your lost electrolytes.

Alternative – Stollen is a German fruitcake that contains dried fruit and marzipan, it is often covered in powdered sugar or icing sugar. The sweetness is meant to help restore your blood glucose levels.

Mexico: Shrimp Salad
When you wake up in Mexico feeling like death, this plate of zingy Mexican salad called “Vuelva a la Vida” (return to life) will sort you right out! It is made with prawns, lime, onions and tomatoes and plenty of Mexicans swear by it.

Alternative – If you can’t find a salad go for the Mexican tripe soup, it consists of beef stomach (gag) in a broth with a red chili pepper base. It is believed to stimulate the senses and clear your head.

Poland: Pickle Juice
The best thing to glug down in Poland is some chunky pickle juice and get rid of that hangover right away. This juice consists of nothing more than vinegar, water and sodium, however it is a great way to rehydrate the body after a heavy night out.

Alternative – Milk kefir is a fermented milk drink that is made from kefir grains, it apparently gets rid of your hangover, but there could possibly be a better solution.

South Africa: Ostrich Egg Omelette
The traditional dish in South Africa for an unpleasant morning after is an omelette made of an ostrich egg. The egg is so huge that it is equal to 24 dozen chicken eggs – so it’s good to have a mass of hungover friends to share it with.

Alternative – If you can’t manage to get hold of an ostrich egg, a popular local hangover cure is to drink Sparletta cream soda. It will definitely rehydrate you plus the colorants and preservatives will scare off the hangover.

If you're suffering the morning after the night before, then check out these tried and tested hangover cures from around the world. From carb-fests to pickle juice there's bound to be something here to bring you back to life.

Are you planning on visiting the beautiful Mother City in the near future? Book in at 808 Cartwright for an affordable, self-catering apartment with amazing views. Need a shuttle service to and from Cape Town International Airport? Contact Airport Shuttle today!

Written By: Christine Romans