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To: SunkenCiv
Wonder if the contents were similar to Roman Posca, a mix of wine vinegar, water, and various spices/flavorings that was popular in the empire and a staple drink of the legions. Adding vanilla bean to the mix would have been difficult, however, since at that time it only existed in the Americas. Something whoever wrote this article doesn't seem to be aware of. Other spices were available from far away India and East Asia. But AFIK not vanilla. This may be like when they found traces of cocaine on Egyptian mummies.

Wine in the ancient Mediterranean was in a more viscous state and was customarily watered before drinking. Banquet scenes in the Iliad and the Odyssey always described adding and mixing water with wine in a bowl, a little then sprinkled on the ground as share for the Gods, before serving it out to the participants. Imbibed in sufficient quantity, the result was still strong enough to get everybody drunk. Drinking un-watered wine was considered a faux pas and barbaric. But adding flavorings to cheap or bad wine was how one got past the taste.

10 posted on 04/06/2022 8:45:31 AM PDT by katana
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To: katana

Thanks!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla

OTOH:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1038045/posts?page=99#99


13 posted on 04/06/2022 9:01:38 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: katana

“This may be like when they found traces of cocaine on Egyptian mummies.”

Don’t share this tidbit with Hunter Biden. It won’t end well.


34 posted on 04/06/2022 1:39:42 PM PDT by MercyFlush (I don't follow the science. I follow the money. )
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