[Sca-cooks] Latin names for spices.

[Stefan li Rous]

Iasmin detailed the Middle Kingdom's rules for A&S competitions including:

>       Any herbal preparation that is used for medical, magical or
>       poisonous uses will not be eligible for entry into the A & S Faire.
>       Any herbs and spices used in the entry must be listed in the
>       documentation with their Latin botanical names and must be in
>       compliance with the Prohibited and Restricted Herbs list.
>
> The rules as such are unclear about many things related to plants and
> under close scrutiny right now.

Good. I don't understand why there has to be any kind of restriction
like this, at all. If the concern is safety, then perhaps clearly
worded warnings would be sufficent. This reminds me of the label
that you now see on many fast food cups, whether they contain coffee
or not, about the contents of the cup are hot. (ie: don't hold it
between your legs and try to drive). Are the items open to being
eaten by the populace? Or just the judges? In either case, but
especially in the case of the judges who should have some knowledge
in the field or at least some common sense, folks shouldn't just
be indiscriminately tasting things.

Is the use of period pigments also disallowed? Many of those contain
things like mercury and lead.

A literal reading of this current regulation eliminates almost all
period cosmetics, and indeed, foodstuffs from the competition.

If something like this is really needed, then there really should
be an "only" between "used" and "for" above. As written this
prevents the use of most foods as an entry. I suspect with the
resources of this list, we could find a period phrase for almost any
spice or herb or food item that says it is "good for such and
such" health aspect. Or that it is bad for you because it causes
gas or whatever. Or some other period medicinal referance.

While a bit too rules pushing for me, it might be fun to take
a list/description of the entries and see just how many we can
eliminate using these rules as written.

--
THLord 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://www.florilegium.org ****