Posca, the Sour Drink of Soldier and Sage
Water mixed with wine vinegar, sometimes sweetened with a little honey and flavored with herbs. Refreshing, slightly tart, it purified the water and quenched thirst without intoxication.
Water mixed with wine vinegar, sometimes sweetened with a little honey and flavored with herbs. Refreshing, slightly tart, it purified the water and quenched thirst without intoxication.
Let others wallow in heady wines until they lose their reason. For me, this sour water suffices: it quenches thirst, keeps the mind clear, and the body sober. Pour yourself a cup, add a drop of honey if you wish, and drink without excess. The man who masters his thirst is already on the path to mastering himself.
- •Water — one cup (base)
- •Wine vinegar — a dash (acidity and purification)
- •Honey — optional, a touch (sweetness)
- •Herbs (coriander, lovage) — a few sprigs (flavor)
Posca, the Sour Drink of Soldier and Sage
Water mixed with wine vinegar, sometimes sweetened with a little honey and flavored with herbs. Refreshing, slightly tart, it purified the water and quenched thirst without intoxication.
Why this dish? Posca, a mixture of water and vinegar, was the thirst-quenching drink of the legionary and the frugal man. For Marcus Aurelius, who drank his wine heavily diluted with water and shunned the drunkenness of banquets, this modest, sanitizing drink suited his Stoic discipline perfectly, in camp and palace alike.
Let others wallow in heady wines until they lose their reason. For me, this sour water suffices: it quenches thirst, keeps the mind clear, and the body sober. Pour yourself a cup, add a drop of honey if you wish, and drink without excess. The man who masters his thirst is already on the path to mastering himself.
Ingredients (period version)
- Water — one cup (base)
- Wine vinegar — a dash (acidity and purification)
- Honey — optional, a touch (sweetness)
- Herbs (coriander, lovage) — a few sprigs (flavor)
Ingredients
- Cold water — 500 ml (base)
- Red wine vinegar — 2 to 3 tbsp (acidity)
- Honey — 1 tsp (optional) (sweetness)
- Coriander seeds and mint sprigs — 1 pinch + a few leaves (flavor)
Method
- Dissolve honey in a little warm water if using.
- Mix cold water and wine vinegar in a pitcher.
- Add lightly crushed coriander seeds and mint.
- Let infuse for 15-20 minutes in a cool place, then strain.
- Serve well chilled, adjusting vinegar to taste.
How it was made : Posca was the common drink of Roman soldiers, distributed as part of the ration: the vinegar made questionable water potable and provided a slight energy boost. Austere by nature, it was associated with moral simplicity, as opposed to luxury wines.
The contemporary twist : Served over ice with a lemon slice: a 'Roman switchel', ancient cousin of the vinegar-based drinks back in fashion.
Sources : Plutarch, Parallel Lives (mentions of posca) · Studies on the diet of the Roman armies
Marcus Aurelius · Charactorium
