flipRhoités — pomegranate wine of the Underworld
Rhoités — pomegranate wine of the Underworld
Why this dish? Six pomegranate seeds: that's all it took for Persephone, my queen, to belong to me for a third of the year. The pomegranate is the seal of my realm. To make a dark red drink from it is to drink the pact that binds me to the world of the living through the seasons.
A light wine enhanced with pomegranate juice and honey, served cut with water as Greek custom demanded. Tart, fruity, vinous — the blood-red cup poured to Hades and raised to his queen.
Approach the cup, but never drink wine pure like a barbarian: at my table it is mixed with water, three measures to one, lest reason drown before the body. Press my pomegranates, those that sealed my queen's fate, and marry their blood to wine and honey. First pour a few drops to the ground, for me and for the shades — then raise your cup: you taste there the pact of the seasons.
- •Light red wine — one part (base)
- •Pressed pomegranate juice — one part (tart signature)
- •Honey — a splash (sweetener)
- •Spring water — two to three parts (dilution (Greek custom))
- •Mint leaves or pine resin — a hint (flavor (optional))
Rhoités — pomegranate wine of the Underworld
A light wine enhanced with pomegranate juice and honey, served cut with water as Greek custom demanded. Tart, fruity, vinous — the blood-red cup poured to Hades and raised to his queen.
Why this dish? Six pomegranate seeds: that's all it took for Persephone, my queen, to belong to me for a third of the year. The pomegranate is the seal of my realm. To make a dark red drink from it is to drink the pact that binds me to the world of the living through the seasons.
Approach the cup, but never drink wine pure like a barbarian: at my table it is mixed with water, three measures to one, lest reason drown before the body. Press my pomegranates, those that sealed my queen's fate, and marry their blood to wine and honey. First pour a few drops to the ground, for me and for the shades — then raise your cup: you taste there the pact of the seasons.
Ingredients (period version)
- Light red wine — one part (base)
- Pressed pomegranate juice — one part (tart signature)
- Honey — a splash (sweetener)
- Spring water — two to three parts (dilution (Greek custom))
- Mint leaves or pine resin — a hint (flavor (optional))
Ingredients
- Light fruity red wine — 250 ml (base)
- 100% pomegranate juice — 250 ml (tart signature)
- Honey — 1 to 2 tbsp (sweetener)
- Water (still or sparkling) — 250 to 400 ml (dilution)
- Fresh mint leaves — a few (flavor)
- Pomegranate arils — 1 handful (garnish)
Method
- Gently warm the pomegranate juice with honey until dissolved (do not boil), let cool.
- In a large pitcher (the 'krater'), mix the wine and pomegranate syrup.
- Dilute with water to taste — use 1 part wine/pomegranate mix to 1 to 1.5 parts water.
- Crush a few mint leaves and add them.
- Serve chilled in cups, garnish with floating pomegranate arils.
- Non-alcoholic version: replace wine with red grape juice and a splash of wine vinegar.
How it was made : The Greeks almost always drank wine cut with water from a krater; drinking it pure was considered a 'barbarian' custom. Flavoring wine with honey, herbs and fruits was common. Pomegranate juice (*sîdion*) was known and appreciated; its precise transformation into a vinous drink for Hades here is a plausible reconstruction based on the fruit's symbolism and attested oenological practices.
The contemporary twist : Served as a 'spritz of the Underworld': very refreshing sparkling version, pomegranate arils at the bottom of the glass like dark embers.
Sources : Homeric Hymn to Demeter (episode of the pomegranate seeds) · Athenaeus of Naucratis, The Deipnosophists (cut wine, flavored wines) · Andrew Dalby, Siren Feasts (1996)
Hades · Charactorium
