What You Need to Know
The preparation of kykeon involves soaking barley in water, then boiling it with herbs such as silphium and pennyroyal, resulting in a complex mixture of compounds with potential medicinal and spiritual properties. The exact chemical composition of kykeon is unknown due to the loss of the original recipe. However, the process of infusion and boiling likely involves the extraction of bioactive compounds from the herbs and the gelatinization of starches in the barley.
Key Parameters
Temperature
°C - °C
Time
-
Steps
- 1.
Eleusinian Ritual Kykeon (Attica, Greece): Sacramental vehicle for psychoactive compounds (controversial)
- 2.
Spartan Campaign Kykeon (Laconia, Greece): Field ration with added cheese for caloric density
- 3.
Thessalian Shepherd's Kykeon (Thessaly, Greece): Digestive aid with added pennyroyal and thyme
The Science
Primary Reaction
INFUSION