Editing Distillation (section)

=== Ancient India and China (1–500 CE) ===
Distillation was practiced in the ancient [[Indian subcontinent]], which is evident from baked clay [[retort]]s and receivers found at [[Taxila]], [[Shaikhan Dheri]], and [[Charsadda]] in [[Pakistan]] and [[Rang Mahal, Sri Ganganagar|Rang Mahal]] in [[India]] dating to the early centuries of the [[Common Era]].<ref>[[John Marshall (archaeologist)|John Marshall]], ''Taxila'', '''2''':[https://books.google.com/books?id=IOnUugEACAAJ&q=water-condensers&pg=PA420 420] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213050510/https://books.google.com/books?id=IOnUugEACAAJ&newbks=0&lpg=PP1&vq=water-condensers&pg=PA420 |date=13 December 2022 }}, 1951</ref><ref>Frank Raymond Allchin, "India: the ancient home of distillation?" ''Man'', New Series '''14''':1:55-63 (1979) [https://www.samorini.it/doc1/alt_aut/ad/allchin-india-the-ancient-home-of-distillation.pdf full text] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220212010/https://www.samorini.it/doc1/alt_aut/ad/allchin-india-the-ancient-home-of-distillation.pdf |date=20 December 2019 }}</ref><ref>Javed Husain, "The So-Called 'Distillery' at Shaikhan Dheri - A Case Study", ''Journal of the Pakistan Historical Society'' '''41''':3:289-314 (Jul 1, 1993)</ref> [[Frank Raymond Allchin]] says these terracotta distill tubes were "made to imitate bamboo".<ref>Frank Raymond Allchin, "India: the ancient home of distillation?" ''Man'', New Series '''14''':1:55-63 (1979) [https://www.samorini.it/doc1/alt_aut/ad/allchin-india-the-ancient-home-of-distillation.pdf full text] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220212010/https://www.samorini.it/doc1/alt_aut/ad/allchin-india-the-ancient-home-of-distillation.pdf |date=20 December 2019 }}</ref> These "[[Gandhara]] stills" were only capable of producing very weak [[liquor]], as there was no efficient means of collecting the vapors at low heat.<ref name="habib">[[Irfan Habib|Habib, Irfan]] (2011), [https://books.google.com/books?id=K8kO4J3mXUAC&pg=PA55 ''Economic History of Medieval India, 1200–1500'']. [[Pearson Education]]. p. 55. {{ISBN|9788131727911}}</ref>

Distillation in China may have begun at the earliest during the [[Eastern Han]] dynasty (1st–2nd century CE).<ref name="Haw"/>