Treacle

Treacle

Treacle is a thick, dark sugar syrup produced during raw sugarcane refiningOxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, 1989.] , used chiefly in cooking as a form of sweetener. It has a distinctively strong flavour, slightly bitter, and a richer colour than Golden syrup, yet not as dark as molasses.

History

Historically, the term was used by herbalists and apothecaries to describe a medicine - also called theriac or theriaca - composed of many ingredients, or one used as a treatment for poisons, snakebites or various ailments. In this time wells or springs believed to contain curative water were known as "treacle wells". The name is derived from the Old French "triacle", in turn from Latin "theriaca", meaning "“antidote to poison”".

In Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", Chapter 7, the Dormouse tells a story of a family living in a treacle well, which confuses Alice.

Production

Treacle is made from syrups that remain after white sugar is removed from the refining process. The sugar cane is crushed, then the juice boiled to specific consistencies for crystallization (Sugar), Treacle being one of a group of named syrups extracted during this process.

ee also

* Venice treacle
* Treacle of Andromachus, a honey or molasses-based antivenom.
* Treacle mining
* Golden syrup
* Molasses

References

External links

[http://www.recipes4us.co.uk/Specials%20and%20Holidays/Treacle%20Origin%20Uses%20Recipes.htm Old 'Recipes4us' page "Treacle Origin"]

[http://www.csrsugar.com.au/ViewProduct.aspx?id=10 CSR Sugar company of Australia - Treacle]

[http://www.sugaraustralia.com.au/Industry.aspx?content=FinalProduct Sugar Australia website - refiner and marketer for CSR limited.]


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  • Treacle — Trea cle (tr[=e] k l), n. [OE. triacle a sovereign remedy, theriac, OF. triacle, F. th[ e]riaque (cf. Pr. triacla, tiriaca, Sp. & It. triaca, teriaca), L. theriaca an antidote against the bite of poisonous animals, Gr. ?, fr. ? of wild or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • treacle — (n.) mid 14c., medicinal compound, antidote for poison, from O.Fr. triacle antidote (c.1200), from V.L. *triacula, from L. theriaca, from Gk. theriake (antidotos) antidote for poisonous wild animals, from fem. of theriakos of a wild animal, from… …   Etymology dictionary

  • treacle — ► NOUN chiefly Brit. 1) molasses. 2) golden syrup. DERIVATIVES treacly adjective. ORIGIN originally referring to an antidote against venom: from Greek th riak antidote against venom , from th rion wild beast …   English terms dictionary

  • treacle — [trē′kəl] n. [ME triacle < OFr < L theriaca, antidote for poison < Gr ( antidotos) thēriakē, (remedy) for bites of venomous beasts < thērion, wild beast, dim. of thēr: see FIERCE] 1. Obs. a) a remedy for poison b) any effective remedy …   English World dictionary

  • Treacle — A medicinal compound once in wide use as an antidote to poisons. Treacle was a kind of salve. It was reputed to be a remedy against venomous bites in particular and against poisons in general. It also came to be considered a cure for cancer. The… …   Medical dictionary

  • treacle — trea|cle [ˈtri:kəl] n [U] [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: triacle, from Latin theriaca, from Greek theriake cure for a poisonous bite , from therion wild animal ] 1.) BrE a thick sweet black sticky liquid that is obtained from the sugar… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • treacle — noun 1》 Brit. molasses.     ↘golden syrup. 2》 cloying sentimentality or flattery. Derivatives treacly adjective Word History When treacle entered English in the Middle Ages it meant antidote against poison, venomous bites, and disease : it came… …   English new terms dictionary

  • treacle — treacly /tree klee/, adj. /tree keuhl/, n. 1. contrived or unrestrained sentimentality: a movie plot of the most shameless treacle. 2. Brit. a. molasses, esp. that which is drained from the vats used in sugar refining. b. Also called golden syrup …   Universalium

  • treacle — noun Treacle is used before these nouns: ↑tart …   Collocations dictionary

  • treacle — [14] Treacle is etymologically an ‘antidote to the bite of wild animals’. The word comes via Old French triacle and Latin thēriaca from Greek thēriaké. This was short for antídotos thēriaké ‘antidote to poisonous animals’, thēriaké being a… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

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