The centerpieces of ancient Roman townhouses, peristyle gardens were lush and vibrant with decorative plants. Here, you can read about ancient Roman homes, the flowers grown in them, and a recipe for rose wine you can try. A photo I took of the rosatum in a glass after three weeks of steeping, with extra rose… Continue reading Rosatum (Rose Wine)
Category: Drink
Conditum Paradoxum: Surprise Wine?
With colder winters and the conclusion of Saturnalia and the modern holiday season, now seems like as good a time as any to write about the Romans’ version of mulled wine. Here, a brief history of spices in wine and a recipe to try yourself. A photo of the conditum paradoxum I made. Real peppery!… Continue reading Conditum Paradoxum: Surprise Wine?
Water: The Real Aqua Vitae
You read that right! Though it’s nothing glamorous, water provided everything ancient peoples ate and drank, forming the basis of all dishes — this still hasn’t changed. Here you can read about how Romans got and used water, plus a recipe to try. The Pont du Gard aqueduct, one of the best-preserved and arguably the… Continue reading Water: The Real Aqua Vitae
Passum: A Most Delicate Drink
Wine was a favorite drink of the Romans, but women weren’t supposed to drink. According to legend, they came up with a sweeter variety, which was made with raisins. Here is a story of the drink and a recipe you can prepare. A glass of the passum, or raisin wine, I prepared using the recipe… Continue reading Passum: A Most Delicate Drink
Posca: Ancient Gatorade?
Popular among the legionaries and proletariat of Rome, this drink had several invigorating side effects, which you can experience in your own kitchen! A mosaic of a flagon and cup of a beverage, assumed to be wine. Could it actually be posca? From the Bardo National Museum, Tunis. Roman legionaries were renowned for their physical… Continue reading Posca: Ancient Gatorade?