The Drink Portal

A portal dedicated to all beverages

A drink or beverage is a liquid intended for human consumption. In addition to their basic function of satisfying thirst, drinks play important roles in human culture. Common types of drinks include plain drinking water, milk, juice, smoothies and soft drinks. Traditionally warm beverages include coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Caffeinated drinks that contain the stimulant caffeine have a long history.

In addition, alcoholic drinks such as wine, beer, and liquor, which contain the drug ethanol, have been part of human culture for more than 8,000 years. Non-alcoholic drinks often signify drinks that would normally contain alcohol, such as beer, wine and cocktails, but are made with a sufficiently low concentration of alcohol by volume. The category includes drinks that have undergone an alcohol removal process such as non-alcoholic beers and de-alcoholized wines. (Full article...)

Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine class and is the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance globally. It is mainly used for its eugeroic (wakefulness promoting), ergogenic (physical performance-enhancing), or nootropic (cognitive-enhancing) properties. Caffeine acts by blocking binding of adenosine at a number of adenosine receptor types, inhibiting the centrally depressant effects of adenosine and enhancing the release of acetylcholine. Caffeine has a three-dimensional structure similar to that of adenosine, which allows it to bind and block its receptors. Caffeine also increases cyclic AMP levels through nonselective inhibition of phosphodiesterase, increases calcium release from intracellular stores, and antagonizes GABA receptors, although these mechanisms typically occur at concentrations beyond usual human consumption.

Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline purine, a methylxanthine alkaloid, and is chemically related to the adenine and guanine bases of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). It is found in the seeds, fruits, nuts, or leaves of a number of plants native to Africa, East Asia and South America and helps to protect them against herbivores and from competition by preventing the germination of nearby seeds, as well as encouraging consumption by select animals such as honey bees. The best-known source of caffeine is the coffee bean, the seed of the Coffea plant. People may drink beverages containing caffeine to relieve or prevent drowsiness and to improve cognitive performance. To make these drinks, caffeine is extracted by steeping the plant product in water, a process called infusion. Caffeine-containing drinks, such as coffee, tea, and cola, are consumed globally in high volumes. In 2020, almost 10 million tonnes of coffee beans were consumed globally. Caffeine is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive drug. Unlike most other psychoactive substances, caffeine remains largely unregulated and legal in nearly all parts of the world. Caffeine is also an outlier as its use is seen as socially acceptable in most cultures with it even being encouraged. (Full article...)

General topics:	Bartending  • Bottling • Drinking • Drinking water • Bottled water • Mineral water • Coffee • Energy drink • Juice • Tea • Milk • Plant milk • Pasteurization • Refrigeration • Steeping • Water purification
Alcoholic beverages:	Beer • Brandy • Brewing • Caffeinated alcoholic drinks • Cider • Cocktails • Distillation • Fermentation • Hard soda • Liquor • Liqueur • Malt drink • Mead • Proof • Rice Wine • Schnapps • Vodka • Whiskey • Wine
Soft Drinks:	Carbonation • Cola • Orange soft drink • Frozen carbonated drink • Root beer • Soda water • Lithia water •
Miscellaneous:	Drink industry • Lemonade • Limeade • Orange drink • Slush (beverage)

WikiProject Food & Drink is an association of Wikipedians with an interest in culinary-related subjects. They have come together to co-ordinate the development of food and drink articles here on Wikipedia as well as the many subjects related to food such as foodservice, catering and restaurants. If you wish to learn more about these subjects as well as get involved, please visit the project.

WikiProject Beer – covers Wikipedia's coverage of beer and breweries and microbreweries

WikiProject Wine – aims to compile thorough and accurate information on different vineyards, wineries and varieties of wines, including but not limited to their qualities, origins, and uses.

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Child projects:	Task forces: (All inactive)
Wikiproject Bacon WikiProject Bartending WikiProject Breakfast WikiProject Spirits	Beverages task force Cheeses task force Coffee and Tea task force Desserts task force Foodservice task force Herbs and Spices task force Pub task force
Related projects:
WikiProject Agriculture WikiProject Fishing and Fisheries

Here are some tasks awaiting attention: Expand : O'Douls (needs own page), Bappir, Rice milk Orphans : Somalamma Stubs : See Category:Drink stubs for articles to expand and improve. Colada morada Verify : Barback, Beer in Japan, Brem, Chicha, Chinese alcoholic beverages, Cola Wars, Flavored milk, Mixed drink, National Coffee Park, Smart drink, Somalamma Other : Help populate the Featured Pictures, People, Images, Recipes and ingredients sections

The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject: