The History of Food
Ancient Greece · 5th Century BC
Kykeon
Ancient Greek Barley & Herb Energy Tonic
The everyday restorative of Homeric Greece: toasted barley loosened in water with herbs, honey and a little cultured dairy — an early electrolyte and fibre drink.
Prep
10 min
Calories
210 kcal
Macros C/P/F
34/7/4 g
Health rating
4.6 / 5
Plant-BasedGut-Friendly
As poured for harvesters, soldiers and initiates at Eleusis.
Ingredients
- 60 g coarsely ground toasted barley (alphita)
- 350 ml cool water
- 2 tbsp goat's milk or sheep yoghurt
- 1 tsp raw honey
- 1 tbsp fresh pennyroyal or mint, bruised
- Pinch of sea salt
Method
- 1Toast the barley groats in a dry pan over embers until nutty, then grind coarsely in a mortar.
- 2Stir the meal into cool water and leave to slacken for 10 minutes so the grain softens.
- 3Bruise the mint in the mortar with the salt and add it to the vessel.
- 4Fold through the milk or yoghurt and the honey; do not heat — Kykeon was always served cool.
- 5Stir well before each cup, as the barley settles quickly.
