SC - Boar Recipe

[Decker, Terry D.]

Adamantius replied to me: 
> > He also mentions Cypriot "monk's pepper" the seed of agnia or chaste
> > tree (Vitex agnus castus). "The pepper was added to monastic dishes to
> > suppress venery or sexual desire."
> >
> > Anyone have any more on this or similar spices? I've got a little bit
> > on period aphrodisiacs. This is the first time I think I've heard of
> > a period spice being used to achieve the opposite effect.
> 
> Ummm, I understand saltpeter is/was famous for being added to prison
> food, especially baked goods and meat dishes, for precisely that effect.

Yes, but I specified period spice. Was saltpeter used for this in period?
We know they knew of saltpeter since it is a prime component of gunpowder.
I believe I've heard of saltpeter being used in the late Renaissance being
used in water as a cooling solution and a bit earlier as a meat 
preservative. Does anyone know how else it might have been used in period?
- -- 
Lord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
Mark S. Harris             Austin, Texas           stefan at texas.net
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:
         http://lg_photo.home.texas.net/florilegium/index.html ****
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