SC - Gulf Wars SCA-Cooks get-together

[Stefan li Rous]

Several times in the past we have discussed treacle and golden syrup.

In reading "Foor and Drink in Britain, From the Stone Age to the 19th
Century" by C. Anne Wilson, I came across some information that I think
might help answer some of the questions that were brought up previously.

p 304:
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The name 'treacle' originated in the ancient world, for it came from the
Greek 'theriaca antidotos' (i.e. antidote for the bite of wild beasts).
The Romans applied the term to a medical electuary said to have been
invented by Nero's physican, Andromachus, which comprised a large
number of drugs and spices reduced and combined in a honey emulsion. It
was considered a powerful specific for all poisons, and continued in
use throughout the Middle Ages under the name 'theriaca or triacle'.

...For a long time Venice was the main center of production, supplying
most of western Europe. But in the fifteenth century Genoa treacle
became better known in England, where flanders treacle was also imported.
Sugar syrup or molasses now often formed the base, and when sugar
refineries were set up in London, the apothecaries were quick to take
advantage of home-produced molasses and London treacle appeared on sale.

When production of molasses in Britain's refineries outstripped the
needs of both apothecaries and distillers, it was sold off in its
natural unmedicated state as a cheap sweetener. Its name of molasses
was taken by the early settlers to America. [hence some of the 
questions on this list from non-American folks as to what molasses,
actually was]. But in Britain in the later seventeenth century the
alternative term 'common treacle' came into circulation, and thereafter
it was known simply as treacle. [so beware period manuscripts calling
for treacle. They may or may not mean molasses]

...It was still a thick, dark syrup. The refining methods which produce
golden syrup were not invented until about 1880.
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- -- 
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 ****