ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Botanical identity of soma-haoma

So, you know how there are different plants in the world, like trees, flowers, and vegetables, right? Well, some of these plants can make us feel different things when we eat or drink them.

Soma and haoma are two special plants that have been talked about for a very long time in some cultures. People believe that when they drink a special juice made from these plants, they can feel really happy, peaceful, and connected to something bigger than themselves.

Now, scientists have been trying to figure out exactly which plants soma and haoma are for a long time, because there are lots of different plants that people think might be them. Some people think that haoma might come from a plant called the Syrian rue, and some think that soma could come from a plant called the fly agaric mushroom. But, there are also some people who think that these plants might be completely lost to us now, because they might have gone extinct or disappeared from people's knowledge over time.

So, in short, soma and haoma are special plants that people think can make them feel really good, but we're not exactly sure which plants they are yet. Scientists are still trying to figure it out!