[Sca-cooks] What Not to Eat

[Robin Carroll-Mann]

I was hunting through the _Arte de Cortar_, a 1423 Spanish carving 
manual, and came across something unexpected.  The author is discussing 
the ideal habits and qualities of young men who are to serve the King at 
table.  They should be clean, respectful, decorous, etc.  Then he says, 
"Concerning this, they must keep themselves from things contrary to the 
said conditions and customs; especially, from eating garlic, onions, 
leeks, and cilantro, shallots, and the electuary of hemp leaf, which the 
Moors call alhaxixa."

An electuary is a medical compound, made into a paste with honey, or 
with sugar and water.  (De Nola has a recipe for an electuary of sour 
cherries, meant to stimulate the appetite of invalids.)  The 1729 RAE 
dictionary says that hemp leaves have an "abominable odor".  So, is 
electuary of hemp a cause of bad breath?

-- 
Brighid ni Chiarain
Barony of Settmour Swamp, East Kingdom
Robin Carroll-Mann *** rcmann4 at earthlink.net