Medieval Hypocras

Legend attributes the authorship of hypocras to Hippocrates, a Greek physician of the 4th century BC.
In the Middle Ages, the hypocras was primarily a medicinal wine with spices and can only be found in an apothecary.
It was also used to boost weary warriors but was also as a festive drink and dessert with nuts and cakes.
Today we would like to get back the unique taste of this legendary wine. There are receipts hypocras since the Middle Ages in books on cooking or medicine like the “Viandier Taillevent”. Follow these recipes is dangerous … First because the equivalence of the weights and volumes are difficult to do, then because such assays are best suited to kill an ox than to provide a real pleasure.

Here is our traduction taken from the Viandier Taillevent :

Grind 30 g of cinnamon, 10 (or 20) cardamom pods, 5 cloves, add 100 g of sugar and mix. Let soak in white wine, until it turns (the longer you marinate, the more hypocras will taste). Carefully filter the mixture through a cloth, twice if necessary.

From these indications, here is the “moderne” recipe for our taste !

• 1 bottle red wine
• 100g (3.5 oz) of honey (Sugar was sometimes used, but was replaced by honey in most cases)
• 30g (1.2oz) cinnamon sticks
• 60g (2.4 oz) fresh ginger
• 10 cloves
• 10 cardamom pods

Method

1. Pour the wine and honey in a container.
2. Grind the spices and put them in a cloth.
3. Put the cloth in the wine and cover.
4. Marinate at least for 4 hours.
5. Remove the cloth containing the spices
6. filter before drinking.

Serve chilled or hot !