flipOxymel, the honeyed vinegar of physicians
Oxymel, the honeyed vinegar of physicians
Why this dish? Archimedes lived to an advanced age for his time, enduring the long siege of Syracuse. Oxymel, a mixture of honey and vinegar recommended by Greek physicians since Hippocrates, was the universal household remedy against fever, cough, and thirst — the health drink of an old scholar as well as any Greek household.
A sweet-and-sour drink of honey and vinegar diluted with water, sometimes flavored with herbs. Refreshing and tonic, prescribed by Greek medicine; it was drunk diluted to quench thirst and soothe sore throats.
At my age, and in the heat of Sicily, this is the drink I keep near me when calculation dries my throat. Melt the Hyblaean honey in vinegar, dilute with spring water: the sour and the sweet balance like the two arms of my scale, and the right mixture quenches better than wine. Physicians give it against fever, and I assure you — nothing clears the mind like a cool sip between two demonstrations.
- •Hyblaean honey — one measure (sweetness, remedy)
- •Wine vinegar — half a measure (acidity)
- •Spring water — as needed to dilute (dilution)
- •Herbs (thyme, mint) — one sprig (fragrance, optional)
Oxymel, the honeyed vinegar of physicians
A sweet-and-sour drink of honey and vinegar diluted with water, sometimes flavored with herbs. Refreshing and tonic, prescribed by Greek medicine; it was drunk diluted to quench thirst and soothe sore throats.
Why this dish? Archimedes lived to an advanced age for his time, enduring the long siege of Syracuse. Oxymel, a mixture of honey and vinegar recommended by Greek physicians since Hippocrates, was the universal household remedy against fever, cough, and thirst — the health drink of an old scholar as well as any Greek household.
At my age, and in the heat of Sicily, this is the drink I keep near me when calculation dries my throat. Melt the Hyblaean honey in vinegar, dilute with spring water: the sour and the sweet balance like the two arms of my scale, and the right mixture quenches better than wine. Physicians give it against fever, and I assure you — nothing clears the mind like a cool sip between two demonstrations.
Ingredients (period version)
- Hyblaean honey — one measure (sweetness, remedy)
- Wine vinegar — half a measure (acidity)
- Spring water — as needed to dilute (dilution)
- Herbs (thyme, mint) — one sprig (fragrance, optional)
Ingredients
- Honey (preferably thyme honey) — 4 tbsp (sweetness)
- White wine or cider vinegar — 2 tbsp (acidity)
- Cool water — 500 ml (dilution)
- Fresh thyme or mint — a few sprigs (fragrance)
Method
- Gently warm the honey so it mixes easily.
- Dissolve the honey in the vinegar, stirring until you get a smooth syrup.
- Add the fresh herbs and let infuse for 10 minutes.
- Dilute with cool water to taste, remove the herbs, and serve well chilled.
- Store the concentrate (honey + vinegar) in the fridge and dilute when drinking.
How it was made : Oxymel (oxy- "sour" + meli "honey") appears in the Hippocratic corpus as a therapeutic drink for acute diseases. The ratio varied depending on whether the aim was to quench thirst or to heal; it was often prepared as a storable concentrate.
The contemporary twist : Diluted with sparkling water and ice, it becomes an ancient "switchel": a tangy health soda for hot days.
Sources : Hippocratic corpus, On Regimen in Acute Diseases · Andrew Dalby, Food in the Ancient World from A to Z, Routledge, 2003
Archimedes · Charactorium
