Topic: Early British curry powder history

[Davegrc]

Penned on my iPad as the image was two large to attach !

The opening chapter from a turn of the century chemist recipe book on curry powder recipes

Quote

This condiment is one of the things England gained when she concurred India , that is to say the taste or it ! Because no Indian chief worth his salt would tell how he makes his curry !

And he generally has several compositions , yet every maker of curry powder considers his own particular article the only true original condiment .

Of such we give more than a score of recipes which have come from Hindoo cooks , east India missionaries and military heroes --- men who have suffered there country in curry as well as in warfare . It should be noted that it is a mistake to have the powder a pure yellow !!!

Rather should it be brownish, with a yellow tinge . Hence it should contain not more than 25% . Of turmeric , nor must it be forgotten that flavor is important above all other requirements . This is to be obtained by using fresh condiment , freshly ground ,and  ( herein lies the secret of Ritchie flavor ) ground together ! Pungency is a matter of cayenne pepper, and can be controlled at will . Preference is given to these powders containing cardamon and cummin , but all the formulas  that are tabulated require modification of the proportion of turmeric .

For all practical purposes the first two formulas are quite suitable . The powders are well even richly - flavored and are exceptionally adapted for retailing .

Coriander ........... 6 oz
Cardamoms ........1/2 oz
Madras turmeric ..3 oz
Jamaica ginger ....3 dr
Cayenne pepper ..3 dr
Cummin ................1oz
Fenugreek .............1 1/2 oz
Cinnamon ..............2 oz
Pimento .................2 dr
Black pepper .........1 dr
Long pepper ..........1dr
Cloves ....................1 dr
Nutmeg ...................1 dr

The whole to be in a powder mixed intimately in a mortar and sifted .

[Onions]

wots 'dr'?

[Peripatetic Phil]

wots 'dr'?

Drachm.  Don't they teach anything at school these days ?  Cf. minims and scruples.  (Also rods, poles and perches).  And chains.

** Phil.

[Davegrc]

Dram ! Ha ha I think that's an old English term ! You will have to google that one !

 

[Onions]

Old scool

[Davegrc]

I love the whiskey bit !

dram1
dram/
noun
1.
a small drink of whiskey or other spirits (often used in humorous imitation of Scottish speech).
"a wee dram to ward off the winter chill"
synonyms:   drink, nip, sip, drop, finger, splash, little, spot, taste
"a dram of peach brandy"
2.
another term for drachm (sense 1).

How you are suppose to measure this I will have to study ! But sounds like you drink whiskey and add a little !

[Secret Santa]

Drachm.  Don't they teach anything at school these days ?

Isn't that the thing that gobbles up fair maidens and gets kebabed by chivalrous knights? 

[Peripatetic Phil]

a small drink of whiskey or other spirits (often used in humorous imitation of Scottish speech).

Whoever wrote that has never been to Scotland in his (or her) life.  In Scotland, one drinks whisky; whiskEy is drunk in a completely different country, albeit one that also shares the Goidelic language family.

** Phil.

[Onions]

a small drink of whiskey or other spirits (often used in humorous imitation of Scottish speech).

Whoever wrote that has never been to Scotland in his (or her) life.  In Scotland, one drinks whisky; whiskEy is drunk in a completely different country, albeit one that also shares the Goidelic language family.

** Phil.


...Tennessee...?

[Peripatetic Phil]

...Tennessee...?

Nope, that's called "hooch"