[Sca-cooks] Fwd: RE: gum tragacanth

[Olwen the Odd]

Anyone remember this conversation?  I said I would ask Mistress Bec for the
recipe and it is posted below.

> > > We plan on finding time to make the rose beads soon.  Thats kinds > >
> > like incense.

> >Olwen commented:
> >Mistress Bec and I have used gum tracaganth to make those spice beads
> >with.

> >I don't remember gum tracaganth being required for rose beads, nor
> >even called for in the directions.
> >You might find this file in the Florilegium useful, though:
> >
> >rosaries-msg      (52K) 12/ 8/00    Period rosaries and their use.
> >Making rose beads.
> >http://www.florilegium.org/files/RELIGION/rosaries-msg.html
> >
> >What are "spice beads"? Are they period? What are they used for and > >
>how do you make them?
> >--
> >THLord Stefan li Rous



>From: britterhouse at labdaq.com

>My source is not very scholarly ( Pot Pourri by Joanna Sheen; published by
>Cassell in 1992 and now out of print), although she does reference many
>17th
>century sources for pot pourri. I could find no direct reference to a
>period
>source to support her comments.
>
>Regarding scented beads, she says:
>
>"Perfumed beads have been around for hundreds of years. They originated as
>rosary beads and were worn by people in Tudor times in the faint hope that
>they would provide protection from disease. The perfume can be very long
>lasting but these beads don't rate as desperately sophisticated jewellry. I
>would suggest hanging them over the bedpost or keeping them in a dish on
>your dressing table rather than wearing them."
>
>Her recipe:
>
>Sweet and Spicy Beads
>
>1- - 2 oz (25 - 50 g) allspice berries
>1 cup mixed spices such as cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg
>1/2 cup gum tragacanth
>1/2 teaspoon vanilla oil
>1/2 teaspoon cinnamon oil
>water to mix.
>
>Ignore the allspice berries for the time being but place all the other
>ingredients into an old blender or mixing bowl. Add the essential oils.
>Then
>add the water slowly until it forms a thick paste. Take up equal-sized
>portions of the mixture using a small scoop or part of a teaspoon until all
>the mixture is used up. Then roll the portions into complete balls, small
>cubes, small sausage shapes or whatever you wish. It is easier to do this
>if
>you have oiled your hands, either with some of the essential oil of, if you
>wish to diminish the amount your hands will smell, use vegetable oil
>instead. I tried wearing household gloves but they were too cumbersome for
>this recipe. The best way is to smother yourself in essential oil, produce
>wonderful smelling beads and put up with the fact that you will smell odd
>for a little while!
>
>Once you have rolled the beads into shapes you should leave them to dry out
>for an hour or so. Arm yourself with strong thread or fine nylon filament
>and a long needle. Then prepare the allspice berries. Place them in a pan
>of
>hot water (but don't let them boil) for 4 or 5 minutes until they begin to
>soften, and drain. Now begin to thread up your beads. Thread the balls or
>cubes you have made with the vanilla spice mixture alternately with the
>allspice berries until you have a string of the length you require. Then
>tie
>the ends of the threads together and leave to dry out for at least 48
>hours."
>
>
>She also suggests that these beads could be strung with wood, amber or
>glass
>beads.
>
>Other spice mixtures are suggested, including powdered rose petals with
>rose
>oil. She does not suggest using an iron pot to turn them black.
>
>The gum tragacanth is obviously the binder for the mixture. One could
>experiment with others, as well.
>
>The beads we made have survived well. We hung them to dry, and I rotated
>them several times a day for evenness. We strung them on waxed linen thread
>(used for leatherwork) which worked very well.


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