2,300-Year-Old Beer Recipe Unearthed in China Tomb

Archaeologists excavating a tomb in China’s Shanjiabo cemetery discovered a sealed bronze vessel containing a 2,300-year-old beer. The tomb, dating to the Warring States period between 547 BCE and 221 BCE, held roughly six pints of a pale blue-green liquid remarkably preserved despite millennia underground.

Scientists analyzed the liquid and identified over 2,400 chemical compounds, confirming it was a deliberately brewed cereal-based beer made with broomcorn millet, wheat, barley, and proso millet. Researchers also found preserved yeast cells, indicating advanced fermentation knowledge.

The brewing method used to create this beer differs from any described in historical texts, suggesting a previously unknown recipe. The bottle's airtight seal, cloth layered with mud and organic material, protected the beverage from evaporation and contamination. This discovery provides an unprecedented look into ancient Chinese brewing practices and burial traditions.