Discover the fascinating history of medieval Hypocras, the spiced wine that was both a prestigious party drink and popular medicine for nearly a thousand years in Europe. Join me, Dr Julia Martins, as I explore how this sweet, spicy alcoholic concoction became a staple in medieval medical treatments and royal banquets across Europe.

In this video, I examine the classical origins of Hypocras, named after the famous Greek physician Hippocrates, and explain the medieval medical theory of four humours that made spiced wine a legitimate treatment for various ailments. Learn how physicians prescribed this drink for everything from digestive troubles to melancholy, and how kings exchanged it as prestigious gifts.

I discuss traditional recipes featuring cinnamon, ginger, cloves and other exotic spices, and how the choice of sweetener—sugar or honey—reflected one's social status. From royal courts to apothecaries, Hypocras played a significant role in medieval society until new beverages like coffee and tea arrived in Europe.

To complete the historical journey, I sample a modern recreation of Hypocras from the French town of Perouges, offering my thoughts on this ancient beverage that connected medicine with pleasure, necessity with luxury.

If you're interested in medieval history, historical drinks, food history or medical practices of the past, this video offers a toast to the fascinating intersection of medicine, luxury and everyday life in medieval Europe.

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