Italiano
There are several sources that tell us how disgusting was the black broth (μέλας ζωμός, melas zomos), the national dish of the Spartans.
(Un)fortunately we do not have the original recipe.
What we do know is that it was a pitch dark soup, mostly made up of pieces of pork, broad beans, black pudding and vinegar.
On the other hand, the Spartans, a warrior people, were what we will define as “anti-gourmets”: people with frugal habits, raised with a rigorous education dedicated to sacrifice.
And that acrid taste had actually a double role: in addition to nourishing, it tempered the spirit and character of the young warriors.
It was Plutarch, a Greek historian, who handed down to us how this food was disgusting to foreigners.
A traveller from Southern Italy (people who have always loved good food, even at the time…), after having tasted the black broth said “I finally understand why the Spartans don’t fear death“.
Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse (a Greek colony in Sicily), asked a Spartan cook to prepare the black broth. At the very first spoonful, the tyrant spat it out in disgust. The cook then said, “It is necessary to have exercised in the Spartan manner, and to have bathed in the Eurotas (the Spartan river), in order to relish this broth“.
Now, if you are curious to learn more about the Spartans, I suggest you look for some good books on the subject and forget about some Hollywood blockbusters with ridiculous historical accuracy.
If, on the other hand, you are a professional and want to cook, whether it’s black broth or whatever you like, then I have some good equipment to recommend!
