Medieval Thirst-quenching Drinks

In al-Warraq’s tenth-century Baghdadi cookbook, several chapters are allotted to drinks of different types, which help quench thirst and refresh the body in the heat of summer. Some of them are made from fresh fruits such as apple, lemon, quince, pomegranate, plum, apricot, and unripe grapes. All these drinks are sweetened with honey and flavored with spices such as cloves, cinnamon, mastic, and saffron.

There are also recipes for syrups made from fruits such as apples and quinces, which are served diluted with chilled water and ice, as we do today. Here is a syrup recipe described as ‘a thirst-quenching, healthy drink’ (with modern weight equivalents):