CURRANT SYRUP, RED.— Red-cur-
rant syrup is preferable to black-currant
syrup. Its flavour is not so strong, nor
is it so sickly. In summer these syrups
always form a most refreshing drink,
and it is greatly to be regretted that
they are not more generally sold
throughout the kingdom. The great
national vice of intemperance is best
met by providing cheap substitutes for
the intoxicating liquor now sold. The
poor man has but little choice be-
tween a glass of beer and a glass of cold
water. There is often a craving, not
necessarily for some intoxicating kind
of fluid, but . for something better than
water. Ginger-beer, which is one of the
few English alternatives to ordinary
beer, is a most unsatisfactory drink,
and, as I have before observed in speak-
ing on the subject, it is generally met
with in a tepid state, and has a ten-
dency to settle in the nose. Grocers
would do well during the summer-time
to sell glasses of syrup -and-water at a
penny. Should this become universal
the patronage of the Blue Ribbon
Army alone would soon make the ex-
periment a success. The cost of having
a small filter of cool water always ready
during the hot summer days would be
quite nominal, and the occasional addi-
tion of a lump of ice would be all that
would be necessary. It is to be hoped
that during the ensuing summer some
grocers will try the experiment. Great
efforts are being made in the present
day by the clergy of all denominations
to put a stop to excessive drinking.
One great drawback to temperance in
this country is that there are so few
drinks sold at the same price for which
a glass of beer can be obtained, namely,
a penny. At hotels, although a glass
of the best bitter ale is only twopence,
mineral waters, so-called, namely gin-
ger-beer and lemonade, are often
charged at the price of sixpence, and
soldom less than fourpence. To the
40
CROSSE AND BLACKWELL'S
oor man this price is absolutely pro- -
ibitive. What is required is that the
pint of beer, which is now sold in many
places for three-halfpence, should have
a non-intoxicant, purer, and better rival
at the same price. These fruit syrups
sold by Messrs. Crosse and Blackwell
are probably the best form in which a
cheap substitute for beer can be sup-
plied. Were the demand greater, the
supply would probably be cheaper, for
grocers’ shops throughout the kingdom
might be converted into cheap restaur-
ants, where refreshing drinks which
are not intoxicating could be obtained.
The essential point in hot weather in
selling drinks is that they should be
cool. The craving for some stimulant
is often satisfied with any drink so long
as the tongue is cooled. Medical men
have often recommended persons pos-
sessed of an habitual craving for drink
to carry a few raisins in their pocket,
and occasionally to chew one or two, or
a grape or two. Still, there is nothing
equal to a draught of some slightly acid
and nicely flavoured fluid.
Page 64
Presented as published in 1880. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
CURRANT SYRUP, RED.— Red-currant syrup is preferable to black-currant syrup. Its flavour is not so strong, nor is it so sickly. In summer these syrups always form a most refreshing drink, and it is greatly to be regretted that they are not more generally sold throughout the kingdom. The great national vice of intemperance is best met by providing cheap substitutes for the intoxicating liquor now sold. The poor man has but little choice between a glass of beer and a glass of cold water. There is often a craving, not necessarily for some intoxicating kind of fluid, but . for something better than water. Ginger-beer, which is one of the few English alternatives to ordinary beer, is a most unsatisfactory drink, and, as I have before observed in speaking on the subject, it is generally met with in a tepid state, and has a tendency to settle in the nose. Grocers would do well during the summer-time to sell glasses of syrup -and-water at a penny. Should this become universal the patronage of the Blue Ribbon Army alone would soon make the experiment a success. The cost of having a small filter of cool water always ready during the hot summer days would be quite nominal, and the occasional addition of a lump of ice would be all that would be necessary. It is to be hoped that during the ensuing summer some grocers will try the experiment. Great efforts are being made in the present day by the clergy of all denominations to put a stop to excessive drinking. One great drawback to temperance in this country is that there are so few drinks sold at the same price for which a glass of beer can be obtained, namely, a penny. At hotels, although a glass of the best bitter ale is only twopence, mineral waters, so-called, namely ginger-beer and lemonade, are often charged at the price of sixpence, and soldom less than fourpence. TTo the poor man this price is absolutely prohibitive. What is required is that the pint of beer, which is now sold in many places for three-halfpence, should have a non-intoxicant, purer, and better rival at the same price. These fruit syrups sold by Messrs. Crosse and Blackwell are probably the best form in which a cheap substitute for beer can be supplied. Were the demand greater, the supply would probably be cheaper, for grocers’ shops throughout the kingdom might be converted into cheap restaurants, where refreshing drinks which are not intoxicating could be obtained. The essential point in hot weather in selling drinks is that they should be cool. The craving for some stimulant is often satisfied with any drink so long as the tongue is cooled. Medical men have often recommended persons possessed of an habitual craving for drink to carry a few raisins in their pocket, and occasionally to chew one or two, or a grape or two. Still, there is nothing equal to a draught of some slightly acid and nicely flavoured fluid.