In need of a pick me up?

If you are suffering from the various bugs that are plaguing us at the end of this long cold winter you might be interested in this seventeenth century recipe for a caudle taken from Dick Richardson's book The Sussex Recipe Book.

A caudle is a thick, sweet and alcoholic drink which was believed to be beneficial and to have medicinal properties.

Put three quarts of water on the fire; mix smooth in cold water some oatmeal to thicken it; when boiling, pour the latter in, and twenty powdered Jamaica peppers; boil to a good middling thickness; then add sugar, half a pint of well fermented table beer and a glass of gin.  Boil all together.

Goodness knows what it would taste like!  I think I'll stick to aspirin!!