– **Etymology**:
– Middle English term for treacle used by herbalists and apothecaries.
– Term “triacle” originates from Old French “triacle.”
– Latin “theriaca” is the Latinization of the Greek term “thēriakē.”
– “Thēriakos” in Greek means concerning venomous beasts.
– “Thērion” in Greek means wild animal, beast.
– **Production**:
– Treacle is made from syrup left after sugar refinement.
– Raw sugars undergo affination process.
– Treacle naturally contains high levels of sulphite.
– United States FDA requires declaration of sulphite levels over 10ppm.
– Black treacle is a by-product of sugar crystallization.
– **In Culture**:
– Mahogany is a celebratory drink made with gin and black treacle.
– “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” references a treacle-well.
– Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” features a scene with treacle.
– Arctic Monkeys’ album “Suck It and See” includes a song named “Black Treacle.”
– Treacle tarts are a favorite dessert in the Harry Potter book series.
– **See Also**:
– Caramelisation and treacle mining.
– List of syrups and treacle sponge pudding.
– Venice treacle and treacle protein.
– Theriac of Andromachus and food portal.
– **References**:
– Treacle origins and uses.
– Definitions from Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster.
– Etymology sources from Latin and Greek dictionaries.
– Safety assessment of sulphite levels in treacle.
– Recipes and cultural references involving treacle.
Treacle (/ˈtriːkəl/) is any uncrystallised syrup made during the refining of sugar. The most common forms of treacle are golden syrup, a pale variety, and black treacle, a darker variety similar to molasses. Black treacle has a distinctively strong, slightly bitter flavor, and a richer color than golden syrup. Golden syrup treacle is a common sweetener and condiment in British cuisine, found in such dishes as treacle tart and treacle sponge pudding.
