Posca, the Roman Soldier's Sour Drink
Posca is not wine but a mixture of water and wine vinegar, sometimes sweetened with honey and scented with herbs. Tart and refreshing, it made suspect water potable and quenched thirst without intoxicating. It was the energy drink of military antiquity.
Posca is not wine but a mixture of water and wine vinegar, sometimes sweetened with honey and scented with herbs. Tart and refreshing, it made suspect water potable and quenched thirst without intoxicating. It was the energy drink of military antiquity.
The water from ditches and ponds will fell you more surely than a Hun arrow, soldier — so learn this. Pour a finger of vinegar into your canteen, fill with water, and if fortune smiles, a drop of honey. That is posca: it does not intoxicate, it keeps you sharp under the Gaulish sun. I have drunk as much as my men; a general who demands wine when the troops drink vinegar has not understood what Rome is.
- •Wine vinegar (acetum) — one measure (acidic sanitizing base)
- •Water — five to seven measures (dilution)
- •Honey — a drizzle (optional) (sweetening)
- •Herbs (mint, coriander) — a few sprigs (flavoring)
Posca, the Roman Soldier's Sour Drink
Posca is not wine but a mixture of water and wine vinegar, sometimes sweetened with honey and scented with herbs. Tart and refreshing, it made suspect water potable and quenched thirst without intoxicating. It was the energy drink of military antiquity.
Why this dish? From the Rhine frontier to the plains of Gaul, Aetius lived in perpetual campaign. Posca was the legionary's canteen: vinegar cut with water that quenched thirst, sanitized dubious water sources, and kept the army on its feet. A drink of the ranks as much as the general, shared on the road.
The water from ditches and ponds will fell you more surely than a Hun arrow, soldier — so learn this. Pour a finger of vinegar into your canteen, fill with water, and if fortune smiles, a drop of honey. That is posca: it does not intoxicate, it keeps you sharp under the Gaulish sun. I have drunk as much as my men; a general who demands wine when the troops drink vinegar has not understood what Rome is.
Ingredients (period version)
- Wine vinegar (acetum) — one measure (acidic sanitizing base)
- Water — five to seven measures (dilution)
- Honey — a drizzle (optional) (sweetening)
- Herbs (mint, coriander) — a few sprigs (flavoring)
Ingredients
- Good quality red wine vinegar — 2 tablespoons (acidity)
- Fresh water — 500 ml (base)
- Honey — 1 to 2 teaspoons (sweetness)
- Fresh mint leaves — a few (flavoring)
- Coriander seeds, lightly crushed — 1 pinch (aroma)
Method
- Dissolve the honey in a little warm water.
- Add the vinegar and top up with cold water.
- Add the mint and crushed coriander, let infuse in a cool place for 30 minutes.
- Strain and taste: adjust acidity with a little water if too sharp.
- Serve well chilled, ideally after exertion.
How it was made : Posca was the daily drink of soldiers, slaves, and the common people, as opposed to wine reserved for festive occasions. The acidity of vinegar limited microbial growth, making posca a safe way to drink water of uncertain quality on campaign. It was this drink that, according to the Gospels, a soldier offered Christ on the cross — proof that it was always at hand for the legionary.
The contemporary twist : Served over ice with a slice of cucumber and plenty of mint: the "Roman switchel," a naturally refreshing homemade soda with no added sugar.
Sources : Plutarch, Life of Cato the Elder · Spartianus, Historia Augusta (Hadrian drinking posca in camp)
Aetius · Charactorium