Kykeon (Homeric Barley Drink)

Ingredients

• 0.25 cup Barley (ground into a coarse meal)
• 1 cup Water (for boiling the barley)
• 0.5 cup Pramnian Wine (or a strong, dark red wine)
• 1 oz Goat Cheese (hard variety, finely grated)
• 1 tbsp Honey (optional, for sweetness)

Steps

1. 1

   Grind the barley into a coarse meal using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder.

2. 2

   In a small saucepan, bring one cup of water to a boil.

3. 3

   Add the ground barley to the boiling water and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 10 minutes until the barley is soft and has absorbed most of the water, creating a thick gruel.

4. 4

   Pour the wine into a bowl or large cup.

5. 5

   Stir the cooked barley gruel into the wine.

6. 6

   Grate the hard goat cheese over the mixture and stir it in while the barley is still warm so the cheese slightly softens.

7. 7

   Drizzle with honey if desired and serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Kykeon was described in the Odyssey as a drink that could be both refreshing and medicinal. The texture is meant to be thick, almost like a thin porridge or a chunky smoothie. For a more authentic experience, use a dry red wine with high acidity.

Nutrition per serving

• Ancient Greek
• Historical
• Drink
• Vegetarian
• Barley
• Wine