Side, Snack, Appetizer

Apple

An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (malus domestica). apple trees are cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus malus. the tree originated in central asia, where its wild ancestor, malus sieversii, is still found today. apples have been grown for thousands of years in asia and europe and were brought to north america by european colonists. apples have religious and mythological significance in many cultures, including norse, greek, and european christian tradition. apples grown from seed tend to be very different from those of their parents, and the resultant fruit frequently lacks desired characteristics. generally, apple cultivars are propagated by clonal grafting onto rootstocks. apple trees grown without rootstocks tend to be larger and much slower to fruit after planting. rootstocks are used to control the speed of growth and the size of the resulting tree, allowing for easier harvesting. there are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples. different cultivars are bred for various tastes and uses, including cooking, eating raw, and cider production. trees and fruit are prone to a number of fungal, bacterial, and pest problems, which can be controlled by a number of organic and non-organic means. in 2010, the fruit's genome was sequenced as part of research on disease control and selective breeding in apple production. worldwide production of apples in 2018 was 86 million tonnes, with china accounting for nearly half of the total.

Main

Asian greens

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Banana

A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus musa. in some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called "plantains", distinguishing them from dessert bananas. the fruit is variable in size, color, and firmness, but is usually elongated and curved, with soft flesh rich in starch covered with a rind, which may be green, yellow, red, purple, or brown when ripe. the fruits grow upward in clusters near the top of the plant. almost all modern edible seedless (parthenocarp) bananas come from two wild species – musa acuminata and musa balbisiana. the scientific names of most cultivated bananas are musa acuminata, musa balbisiana, and musa × paradisiaca for the hybrid musa acuminata × m. balbisiana, depending on their genomic constitution. the old scientific name for this hybrid, musa sapientum, is no longer used. musa species are native to tropical indomalaya and australia, and are likely to have been first domesticated in papua new guinea. they are grown in 135 countries, primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent to make fiber, banana wine, and banana beer and as ornamental plants. the world's largest producers of bananas in 2017 were india and china, which together accounted for approximately 38% of total production.worldwide, there is no sharp distinction between "bananas" and "plantains". especially in the americas and europe, "banana" usually refers to soft, sweet, dessert bananas, particularly those of the cavendish group, which are the main exports from banana-growing countries. by contrast, musa cultivars with firmer, starchier fruit are called "plantains". in other regions, such as southeast asia, many more kinds of banana are grown and eaten, so the binary distinction is not as useful and is not made in local languages. the term "banana" is also used as the common name for the plants that produce the fruit. this can extend to other members of the genus musa, such as the scarlet banana (musa coccinea), the pink banana (musa velutina), and the fe'i bananas. it can also refer to members of the genus ensete, such as the snow banana (ensete glaucum) and the economically important false banana (ensete ventricosum). both genera are in the banana family, musaceae.

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Bok choy

Bok choy (american english, canadian english, and australian english), pak choi (british english) or pok choi (brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) is a type of chinese cabbage, used as food. chinensis varieties do not form heads and have green leaf blades with lighter bulbous bottoms instead, forming a cluster reminiscent of mustard greens. it has a flavor between spinach and water chestnuts but is slightly sweeter, with a mildly peppery undertone. the green leaves have a stronger flavor than the white bulb.chinensis varieties are popular in southern china, east asia, and southeast asia. being winter-hardy, they are increasingly grown in northern europe. now considered a subspecies of brassica rapa, this group was originally classified as its own species under the name brassica chinensis by carl linnaeus. they are a member of the family of brassicaceae or cruciferae, also commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family.

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Bunga kantan

Salad of ginger, chili peppers, onions, anchovies, lime juice and fish sauce

Main

Canned meat

Potted meat is a form of traditional food preservation in which hot cooked meat is placed in a pot, tightly packed to exclude air, and then covered with hot fat. as the fat cools, it hardens and forms an airtight seal, preventing some spoilage by airborne bacteria. before the days of refrigeration, potted meat was developed as a way to preserve meat when a freshly-slaughtered animal could not be fully eaten immediately.spores of clostridium botulinum can survive cooking at 100 °c (212 °f), and, in the anaerobic neutral ph storage environment, result in botulism. often when making potted meat, the meat of only one animal was used, although other recipes, such as the flemish potjevleesch, used three or four different meats (animals).

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Chili pepper

Chili peppers (also chile, chile pepper, chilli pepper, or chilli), from nahuatl chīlli (nahuatl pronunciation: [ˈt͡ʃiːlːi] (listen)), are varieties of the berry-fruit of plants from the genus capsicum, which are members of the nightshade family solanaceae, cultivated for their pungency. chili peppers are widely used in many cuisines as a spice to add "heat" to dishes. capsaicin and related compounds known as capsaicinoids are the substances giving chili peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically. other varieties of capsicum include bell peppers (uk: sweet peppers), but while chili peppers are (to varying degrees) pungent or "spicy", bell peppers are generally not and provide additional sweetness and flavor to a meal rather than “heat.” chili peppers originated in bolivia and were first cultivated in mexico. after the columbian exchange, many cultivars of chili pepper spread around the world, used for both food and traditional medicine. this led to a wide variety of cultivars, including the annuum species, with its glabriusculum variety and new mexico cultivar group, and the species of baccatum, chinense, frutescens, and pubescens. cultivars grown in north america and europe are believed to all derive from capsicum annuum, and have white, yellow, red or purple to black fruits. in 2019, the world's production of raw green chili peppers amounted to 38 million tons, with china producing half.

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Chinese mustard

Brassica juncea, commonly brown mustard, chinese mustard, indian mustard, leaf mustard, oriental mustard and vegetable mustard, is a species of mustard plant.

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Choy sum

Choy sum (also spelled choi sum, choi sam in cantonese; cai xin in mandarin; or yu choy 油菜 in hong kong cantonese) is a leafy vegetable commonly used in chinese cuisine. it is a member of the genus brassica of the mustard family, brassicaceae (brassica rapa var. parachinensis or brassica chinensis var. parachinensis). choy sum is a transliteration of the cantonese name (chinese: 菜心), which can be literally translated as "heart of the vegetable". it is also known as chinese flowering cabbage.

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Coconut

The coconut tree (cocos nucifera) is a member of the palm tree family (arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus cocos. the term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which botanically is a drupe, not a nut. the name comes from the old portuguese word coco, meaning "head" or "skull", after the three indentations on the coconut shell that resemble facial features. they are ubiquitous in coastal tropical regions and are a cultural icon of the tropics. the coconut tree provides food, fuel, cosmetics, folk medicine and building materials, among many other uses. the inner flesh of the mature seed, as well as the coconut milk extracted from it, form a regular part of the diets of many people in the tropics and subtropics. coconuts are distinct from other fruits because their endosperm contains a large quantity of clear liquid, called coconut water or coconut juice. mature, ripe coconuts can be used as edible seeds, or processed for oil and plant milk from the flesh, charcoal from the hard shell, and coir from the fibrous husk. dried coconut flesh is called copra, and the oil and milk derived from it are commonly used in cooking – frying in particular – as well as in soaps and cosmetics. sweet coconut sap can be made into drinks or fermented into palm wine or coconut vinegar. the hard shells, fibrous husks and long pinnate leaves can be used as material to make a variety of products for furnishing and decoration. the coconut has cultural and religious significance in certain societies, particularly in the western pacific austronesian cultures where it features in their mythologies, songs, and oral traditions. it also had ceremonial importance in pre-colonial animistic religions. it has also acquired religious significance in south asian cultures, where it is used in hindu rituals. it forms the basis of wedding and worship rituals in hinduism. it also plays a central role in the coconut religion of vietnam. the falling of their mature fruit has led to preoccupation with death by coconut.coconuts were first domesticated by the austronesian peoples in island southeast asia and were spread during the neolithic via their seaborne migrations as far east as the pacific islands, and as far west as madagascar and the comoros. they played a critical role in the long sea voyages of austronesians by providing a portable source of food and water, as well as providing building materials for austronesian outrigger boats. coconuts were also later spread in historic times along the coasts of the indian and atlantic oceans by south asian, arab, and european sailors. based on these separate introductions, coconut populations can still be divided into pacific coconuts and indo-atlantic coconuts, respectively. coconuts were introduced by europeans to the americas only during the colonial era in the columbian exchange, but there is evidence of a possible pre-columbian introduction of pacific coconuts to panama by austronesian sailors. the evolutionary origin of the coconut is under dispute, with theories stating that it may have evolved in asia, south america, or on pacific islands. trees grow up to 30 metres (100 feet) tall and can yield up to 75 fruits per year, though fewer than 30 is more typical. plants are intolerant of cold weather and prefer copious precipitation, as well as full sunlight. many insect pests and diseases affect the species and are a nuisance for commercial production. about 75% of the world's supply of coconuts is produced by indonesia, philippines, and india. the coconut tree is the official state tree of kerala, india.

Drink

Coffee

Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, the seeds of berries from certain flowering plants in the coffea genus. from the coffee fruit, the seeds are separated to produce a stable, raw product: unroasted green coffee. the seeds are then roasted, a process which transforms them into a consumable product: roasted coffee, which is ground into fine particles that are typically steeped in hot water before being filtered out, producing a cup of coffee. coffee is darkly colored, bitter, slightly acidic and has a stimulating effect in humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. it is one of the most popular drinks in the world and can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways (e.g., espresso, french press, caffè latte, or already-brewed canned coffee). it is usually served hot, although chilled or iced coffee is common. sugar, sugar substitutes, milk or cream are often used to lessen the bitter taste or enhance the flavor. it may be served with coffee cake or another sweet dessert, like doughnuts. a commercial establishment that sells prepared coffee beverages is known as a coffeehouse or coffee shop (not to be confused with dutch coffeeshops selling cannabis). clinical research indicates that moderate coffee consumption is benign or mildly beneficial as a stimulant in healthy adults, with continuing research on whether long-term consumption has positive or negative effects.though coffee is now a global commodity, it has a long history tied closely to food traditions around the red sea. the earliest credible evidence of the drinking of coffee in the form of the modern beverage appears in modern-day yemen from the mid-15th century in sufi shrines, where coffee seeds were first roasted and brewed in a manner similar to current methods. the yemenis procured the coffee beans from the ethiopian highlands via coastal somali intermediaries and began cultivation. by the 16th century, the drink had reached the rest of the middle east and north africa, later spreading to europe. in the 20th century, coffee became a much more global commodity, creating different coffee cultures around the world. the two most commonly grown coffee bean types are c. arabica and c. robusta. coffee plants are cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in the equatorial regions of the americas, southeast asia, the indian subcontinent, and africa. as of 2018, brazil was the leading grower of coffee beans, producing 35% of the world total. coffee is a major export commodity as the leading legal agricultural export for numerous countries. it is one of the most valuable commodities exported by developing countries. green, unroasted coffee is the most traded agricultural commodity and one of the most traded commodities overall, second only to petroleum. despite the sales of coffee reaching billions of dollars, those actually producing the beans are disproportionately living in poverty. critics also point to the coffee industry's negative impact on the environment and the clearing of land for coffee-growing and water use. the environmental costs and wage disparity of farmers are causing the market for fair trade and organic coffee to expand.

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Eggplant

Eggplant (us, canada, australia), aubergine (uk, ireland) or brinjal (indian subcontinent, singapore, malaysia, south africa) is a plant species in the nightshade family solanaceae. solanum melongena is grown worldwide for its edible fruit. most commonly purple, the spongy, absorbent fruit is used in several cuisines. typically used as a vegetable in cooking, it is a berry by botanical definition. as a member of the genus solanum, it is related to the tomato, chili pepper, and potato, although those are of the new world while the eggplant is of the old world. like the tomato, its skin and seeds can be eaten, but, like the potato, it is usually eaten cooked. eggplant is nutritionally low in macronutrient and micronutrient content, but the capability of the fruit to absorb oils and flavors into its flesh through cooking expands its use in the culinary arts. it was originally domesticated from the wild nightshade species thorn or bitter apple, s. incanum, probably with two independent domestications: one in south asia, and one in east asia. in 2018, china and india combined accounted for 87% of the world production of eggplants.

Main

Fish

Many species of fish are caught by humans and consumed as food in virtually all regions around the world. fish has been an important dietary source of protein and other nutrients throughout human history. the english language does not have a special culinary name for food prepared from fish like with other animals (as with pig vs. pork), or as in other languages (such as spanish pescado vs. pez). in culinary and fishery contexts, fish may include so-called shellfish such as molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms; more expansively, seafood covers both fish and other marine life used as food.since 1961, the average annual increase in global apparent food fish consumption (3.2 percent) has outpaced population growth (1.6 percent) and exceeded consumption of meat from all terrestrial animals, combined (2.8 percent) and individually (bovine, ovine, porcine, etc.), except poultry (4.9 percent). in per capita terms, food fish consumption has grown from 9.0 kg (19.8 lb) in 1961 to 20.2 kg (45 lb) in 2015, at an average rate of about 1.5 percent per year. the expansion in consumption has been driven not only by increased production, but also by a combination of many other factors, including reduced wastage, better utilization, improved distribution channels and growing consumer demand, linked with population growth, rising disposable incomes and urbanization.europe, japan and the united states of america together accounted for 47 percent of the world's total food fish consumption in 1961, but only about 20 percent in 2015. of the global total of 149 million tonnes in 2015, asia consumed more than two-thirds (106 million tonnes at 24.0 kg per capita). oceania and africa consumed the lowest share. the shift is the result of structural changes in the sector and in particular the growing role of asian countries in fish production, as well as a significant gap between the economic growth rates of the world's more mature fish markets and those of many increasingly important emerging markets around the world, particularly in asia.

Main

Fish and chips

Fish and chips is a popular hot dish consisting of fried fish in crispy batter, served with chips. the dish originated in england, where these two components had been introduced from separate immigrant cultures; it is not known who created the culinary fusion that became the emblematic british meal. often considered britain's national dish, fish and chips is a common take-away food in the united kingdom and numerous other countries, particularly in english-speaking and commonwealth nations.fish and chip shops first appeared in the uk in the 1860s, and by 1910, there were over 25,000 fish and chip shops across the uk. by the 1930s there were over 35,000 shops, but the trend reversed, and by 2009 there were only approximately 10,000. the british government safeguarded the supply of fish and chips during the first world war, and again in the second world war; it was one of the few foods in the uk not subject to rationing during the wars.

Main

Fish ball

Fish balls are rounded meat balls made from fish paste which are then boiled or deep fried. similar in composition to fishcake, fish balls are often made from fish mince or surimi, salt, and a culinary binder such as tapioca flour, corn, or potato starch.fish balls are popular in east and southeast asia, where it is eaten as a snack or added to soups or hotpot dishes. they are usually attributed to chinese cuisine and the fish ball industry is largely operated by people of chinese descent.: 286  european versions tend to be less processed, sometimes using milk or potatoes for binding. nordic countries also have their own variation.

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Guava

Guava () is a common tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. the common guava psidium guajava (lemon guava, apple guava) is a small tree in the myrtle family (myrtaceae), native to mexico, central america, the caribbean and northern south america. the name guava is also given to some other species in the genus psidium such as strawberry guava (psidium cattleyanum) and to the pineapple guava, feijoa sellowiana. in 2019, 55 million tonnes of guavas were produced worldwide, led by india with 45% of the total. botanically, guavas are berries.

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Jackfruit

The jackfruit (artocarpus heterophyllus), also known as jack tree, is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family (moraceae). its origin is in the region between the western ghats of southern india, all of bangladesh, sri lanka and the rainforests of the philippines, indonesia, and malaysia.the jack tree is well-suited to tropical lowlands, and is widely cultivated throughout tropical regions of the world. it bears the largest fruit of all trees, reaching as much as 55 kg (120 pounds) in weight, 90 cm (35 inches) in length, and 50 cm (20 inches) in diameter. a mature jack tree produces some 200 fruits per year, with older trees bearing up to 500 fruits in a year. the jackfruit is a multiple fruit composed of hundreds to thousands of individual flowers, and the fleshy petals of the unripe fruit are eaten. the ripe fruit is sweet (depending on variety) and is more often used for desserts. canned green jackfruit has a mild taste and meat-like texture that lends itself to being called a "vegetable meat".jackfruit is commonly used in south and southeast asian cuisines. both ripe and unripe fruits are consumed. it is available internationally canned or frozen and in chilled meals as are various products derived from the fruit such as noodles and chips.

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Kangkong

Ipomoea aquatica, most widely known as kangkong (also spelled kangkung) or water spinach, is a semi-aquatic, tropical plant grown as a vegetable for its tender shoots. i. aquatica is generally believed to have been first domesticated in southeast asia. it is widely cultivated in southeast asia, east asia, and south asia. it grows abundantly near waterways and requires little to no care.

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Lemongrass

Cymbopogon, also known as lemongrass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, cochin grass, malabar grass, oily heads, citronella grass or fever grass, is a genus of asian, african, australian, and tropical island plants in the grass family. some species (particularly cymbopogon citratus) are commonly cultivated as culinary and medicinal herbs because of their scent, resembling that of lemons (citrus limon). the name cymbopogon derives from the greek words kymbe (κύμβη, 'boat') and pogon (πώγων, 'beard') "which mean [that] in most species, the hairy spikelets project from boat-shaped spathes." lemongrass and its oil are believed to possess therapeutic properties.

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Lime

A lime (from french lime, from arabic līma, from persian līmū, "lemon") is a citrus fruit, which is typically round, green in color, 3–6 centimetres (1.2–2.4 in) in diameter, and contains acidic juice vesicles.there are several species of citrus trees whose fruits are called limes, including the key lime (citrus aurantiifolia), persian lime, makrut lime, and desert lime. limes are a rich source of vitamin c, are sour, and are often used to accent the flavours of foods and beverages. they are grown year-round. plants with fruit called "limes" have diverse genetic origins; limes do not form a monophyletic group.

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Mango

A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree mangifera indica which is believed to have originated from the region between northwestern myanmar, bangladesh, and northeastern india. m. indica has been cultivated in south and southeast asia since ancient times resulting in two types of modern mango cultivars: the "indian type" and the "southeast asian type". other species in the genus mangifera also produce edible fruits that are also called "mangoes", the majority of which are found in the malesian ecoregion.worldwide, there are several hundred cultivars of mango. depending on the cultivar, mango fruit varies in size, shape, sweetness, skin color, and flesh color which may be pale yellow, gold, green, or orange. mango is the national fruit of india, pakistan and the philippines, while the mango tree is the national tree of bangladesh.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Manquang

Main

Noodles

Noodles are a type of food made from unleavened dough which is rolled flat and cut, stretched or extruded, into long strips or strings. noodles can be refrigerated for short-term storage or dried and stored for future use. noodles are usually cooked in boiling water, sometimes with cooking oil or salt added. they are also often pan-fried or deep-fried. noodle dishes can include a sauce or noodles can be put into soup. the material composition and geocultural origin is specific to each type of a wide variety of noodles. noodles are a staple food in many cultures (see chinese noodles, filipino noodles, indonesian noodles, japanese noodles, korean noodles, vietnamese noodles, and italian pasta).

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Okra

Okra or okro (us: , uk: ), abelmoschus esculentus, known in many english-speaking countries as ladies' fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. it has edible green seed pods. the geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of west african, ethiopian, southeast asian, and south asian origins. the plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions around the world and is a notable part of the cuisine of the southern united states as well as middle eastern cuisine, indian cuisine, brazilian cuisine and sri lankan cuisine.

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Papaya

The papaya (, us: ) (from carib via spanish), papaw, () or pawpaw () is the plant carica papaya, one of the 22 accepted species in the genus carica of the family caricaceae. it was first domesticated in mesoamerica, within modern-day southern mexico and central america. in 2020, india produced 43% of the world supply of papayas.

Main

Pork belly

Pork belly or belly pork is a boneless and fatty cut of meat from the belly of a pig. pork belly is particularly popular in hispanic, chinese, danish, norwegian, korean, thai and filipino cuisine.

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Pumpkin

A pumpkin is a cultivar of winter squash that is round with smooth, slightly ribbed skin, and is most often deep yellow to orange in coloration. the thick shell contains the seeds and pulp. the name is most commonly used for cultivars of cucurbita pepo, but some cultivars of cucurbita maxima, c. argyrosperma, and c. moschata with similar appearance are also sometimes called "pumpkins".native to north america (northeastern mexico and the southern united states), pumpkins are one of the oldest domesticated plants, having been used as early as 7,000 to 5,500 bc. pumpkins are widely grown for food, as well as for aesthetic and recreational purposes. pumpkin pie, for instance, is a traditional part of thanksgiving meals in canada and the united states, and pumpkins are frequently carved as jack-o'-lanterns for decoration around halloween, although commercially canned pumpkin purée and pumpkin pie fillings are usually made from varieties of winter squash different from the ones used for jack-o'-lanterns.

Main

Rice

Rice is the seed of the grass species oryza sativa (asian rice) or less commonly oryza glaberrima (african rice). the name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera zizania and porteresia, both wild and domesticated, although the term may also be used for primitive or uncultivated varieties of oryza. as a cereal grain, domesticated rice is the most widely consumed staple food for over half of the world's human population, especially in asia and africa. it is the agricultural commodity with the third-highest worldwide production, after sugarcane and maize. since sizable portions of sugarcane and maize crops are used for purposes other than human consumption, rice is the most important food crop with regard to human nutrition and caloric intake, providing more than one-fifth of the calories consumed worldwide by humans. there are many varieties of rice and culinary preferences tend to vary regionally. the traditional method for cultivating rice is flooding the fields while, or after, setting the young seedlings. this simple method requires sound irrigation planning but reduces the growth of less robust weed and pest plants that have no submerged growth state, and deters vermin. while flooding is not mandatory for the cultivation of rice, all other methods of irrigation require higher effort in weed and pest control during growth periods and a different approach for fertilizing the soil. rice, a monocot, is normally grown as an annual plant, although in tropical areas it can survive as a perennial and can produce a ratoon crop for up to 30 years. rice cultivation is well-suited to countries and regions with low labor costs and high rainfall, as it is labor-intensive to cultivate and requires ample water. however, rice can be grown practically anywhere, even on a steep hill or mountain area with the use of water-controlling terrace systems. although its parent species are native to asia and certain parts of africa, centuries of trade and exportation have made it commonplace in many cultures worldwide. production and consumption of rice is estimated to have been responsible for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2010.

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Tapioca

Tapioca (; portuguese: [tapiˈɔkɐ]) is a starch extracted from the storage roots of the cassava plant (manihot esculenta, also known as manioc), a species native to the north and northeast regions of brazil, but whose use is now spread throughout south america. it is a perennial shrub adapted to the hot conditions of tropical lowlands. cassava copes better with poor soils than many other food plants. tapioca is a staple food for millions of people in tropical countries. it provides only carbohydrate food value, and is low in protein, vitamins and minerals. in other countries, it is used as a thickening agent in various manufactured foods.

Main

Tofu

Soybean curd, used in a variety of ways, for example, deep-fried, stir fry, soups, salads

Drink

VB

Victoria bitter (vb) is a lager produced by carlton & united breweries, a subsidiary of asahi, in melbourne, victoria. it was first and brewed by thomas aitken at victoria brewery in 1854 and is one of the best selling beers in australia.

Drink

Wine

Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are major factors in different styles of wine. these differences result from the complex interactions between the biochemical development of the grape, the reactions involved in fermentation, the grape's growing environment (terroir), and the wine production process. many countries enact legal appellations intended to define styles and qualities of wine. these typically restrict the geographical origin and permitted varieties of grapes, as well as other aspects of wine production. wines not made from grapes involve fermentation of other crops including rice wine and other fruit wines such as plum, cherry, pomegranate, currant and elderberry. wine has been produced for thousands of years. the earliest evidence of wine is from the caucasus region in today's georgia (6000 bce), persia (5000 bce), and italy (4000 bce). new world wine has some connection to alcoholic beverages made by the indigenous peoples of the americas, but is mainly connected to later spanish traditions in new spain. later, as old world wine further developed viticulture techniques, europe would encompass three of the largest wine-producing regions. today, the five countries with the largest wine-producing regions are in italy, spain, france, the united states, and china.wine has long played an important role in religion. red wine was associated with blood by the ancient egyptians and was used by both the greek cult of dionysus and the romans in their bacchanalia; judaism also incorporates it in the kiddush, and christianity in the eucharist. egyptian, greek, roman, and israeli wine cultures are still connected to these ancient roots. similarly the largest wine regions in italy, spain, and france have heritages in connection to sacramental wine, likewise, viticulture traditions in the southwestern united states started within new spain as catholic friars and monks first produced wines in new mexico and california.