Spartan Black Broth: The Dark Side of Spartan Cuisine

😳Spartan warriors were known for their bravery in battle, pithy comebacks, and atrocious cuisine.

😲Melas zomos, or black broth, was the most infamous Spartan dish, made with pork and blood.

🌶️The ingredients of melas zomos likely included pork, blood, vinegar, herbs, salt, and onions.

🔪Modern soups with blood, like German schwarzsauer and Filipino dinuguan, provide insights into the cooking process of melas zomos.

🍲Despite its reputation, melas zomos is palatable and not as repulsive as depicted in ancient texts.

What was melas zomos made of?

—Melas zomos was made with pork, blood, vinegar, herbs, salt, and possibly onions.

How did the Spartans train their warriors?

—Spartan boys underwent rigorous training from an early age, including mock battles and beatings of slaves (helots).

Was Spartan cuisine really that bad?

—While Spartan cuisine, including the infamous black broth, may seem unappetizing to us today, it was suited to the Spartan warrior culture and their frugal lifestyle.

Who ate melas zomos in ancient Greece?

—Melas zomos was primarily consumed by Spartan warriors as part of their diet.

Is melas zomos still prepared today?

—Melas zomos is not commonly prepared today, as it was a dish specific to ancient Spartan culture.

00:00Spartan warriors were renowned for their bravery, comebacks, and terrible cuisine.

06:59Melas zomos, or black broth, was the most infamous Spartan dish, made with pork and blood.

11:10The Spartan upbringing involved neglectful nurses, rigorous training, and mock battles.

13:59Melas zomos was made with pork, blood, vinegar, herbs, salt, and possibly onions.

15:26While melas zomos may not be appetizing in appearance, it is surprisingly palatable.