[Sca-cooks] middle eastern food questions

[Jadwiga Zajaczkowa / Jenne Heise]

> We had a fairly recent discussion on this list about the terms 
> sekanjabin, jalab, and sharbat.
> 
> My research in a number of Medieval Near and Middle Eastern cookbooks 
> and a number of modern Near and Middle Eastern and South Asian 
> cookbooks indicates that:
> 
> 1.) Jalab/jalap is *not* a generic term, but the name of a rather 
> specific drink syrup. The beverage usually contains rosewater, sugar 
> syrup, and dates, and is served sprinkled with pine nuts.

However, in near-period European useage, there is a term 'julep' or 
'juleb' that applies to drinks made with syrups:

See OED: "
[a. F. julep (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), in Pr. julep, Sp. and Pg. julepe, 
It. giulebbe, giulebbo, med.L. julapium, ad. Arab. jul{amac}b, a. Pers. 
gul-{amac}b rose-water, f. gul rose + {amac}b water.] 

    1. A sweet drink prepared in different ways; often, simply a liquid 
sweetened with syrup or sugar, and used as a vehicle for medicine; 
sometimes, a medicated drink used as a demulcent, .comforting., or 
gently stimulating mixture. 

1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 76 To {ygh}eue him in {th}e bigynnynge 
Iulep{em}{th}at is a sirup maad oonly of water & of sugre. 1543 TRAHERON 
Vigo's Chirurg. V. ii. 163 Vse them with a iuleb of vyolettes. c1550 
LLOYD Treas. Health (1585) Fij, Iuleb is a cleare potyon made of dyuerse 
waters and suger. 1597-8 BP. HALL Sat. II. iv. 27 The wholesome julap, 
whose receat Might his diseases lingring force defeat. 1619 S. JEROME 
Origen's Repent. in Farr S.P. Jas. I (1848) 245 It surmounts all 
juloups. a1625 FLETCHER Hum. Lieut. II. ii, The gentleman no doubt will 
fall to his jewlips. "

Cf: Culpeper's English Physitian:

"1. Juleps were first invented as I suppose in Arabia, and my reason is 
because the word Juleb is an Arabick word.

2. It signifies only a pleasant Potion, and was vulgarly used (by such 
as were sick and wanted help, or such as were in health, and wanted no 
money) to quench thirst.

3. Now a daies 'tis commonly used,

[p. 248]

    1. To prepare the Body for Purgation.
    2. To open Obstructions and the Pores.
    3. To digest tough Humors.
    4. To qualifie hot distempers &c.

4. It is thus made (I mean Simple Juleps for I have nothing to say to 
Compounds here; all Compounds have as many several Idea's as men have 
crotchets in their Brain) I say Simple Juleps are thus made: Take a pint 
of such distilled Water as conduceth to the cure of your distemper, 
which this Treatise will plentifully furnish you withal, to which add 
two ounces of Syrup conducing to the same effect (I shall give you Rules 
for it in the last Chapter) mix them together and drink a draught of it 
at your pleasure; If you love tart things ad ten drops of Oyl of Vitriol 
to your pint and shake it together, and it will have a fine grateful 
tast.

5. All Juleps are made for present use, and therefore it is in vain to 
speak of their duration. "

-- Jadwiga Zajaczkowa, Knowledge Pika jenne at fiedlerfamily.net 
"Information wants to be a Socialist... not a Communist or a 
Republican." - Karen Schneider