The oldest recipe in the world that we know of is not for food, but how to make beer. Archeologists uncovered two 4,000 year old tablets that held this recipe. Discovered in Mesopotamia, which is now part of northern Iraq and Syria, a poet penned a hymn to the goddess of beer, Ninkasi (pictured above).
The translation (quoted below) includes the recipe for the delicious ale. Beer during Mesopotamian times played a central role in trade and agriculture. We proudly carry that tradition on today, from football games to relaxing weekdays :).
A Hymn to Ninkasi
Borne by the flowing water […J,
Tenderly cared for by Ninhursag,
Ninkasi, borne by the flowing water I…J
Tenderly cared for by Ninhursog.
Having founded your town by the sacred lake,
She finished its great walls for you,
Ninkasi, having founded your town by the sacred lake,
She finished its great walls for you.
Your father is Enki the lord Nudimmud,
Your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu.
Ninkasi, your father is Enki, the lord Nudimmud,
Your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu.
You are the one who handles dough
[and] with a big shovel,
Mixing in a pit, the bappir with sweet aromatics.
Ninkosi, you ore the one who handles dough
[and]…with a big shovel,
Mixing, in a pit, the bappir with [date]-honey.
You are the one who bakes the bappir in the big oven,
Puts in order the piles of hulled grain.
Ninkasi, you are the one who bakes the bappir in the big oven,
Puts in order the piles of hulled grain.
You are the one who waters the malt set on the ground,
The noble dogs keep away even the potentates.
Ninkasi, you are the one who waters the malt set on the ground,
The noble dogs keep away even the potentates.
You are the one who soaks the malt in a jar,
The waves rise, the waves fall.
Ninkasi, you are the one who soaks the malt in a jar,
The waves rise, the waves fall.
You are the one who spreads the cooked mash on
large reed mots,
Coolness overcomes…Ninkasi, you are the one who spreads the cooked mash
on large reed mats,
Coolness overcome,You are the one who holds with both hands the great sweetwort,
Brewing [it] with honey [and] wine…
The fermenting vat, which makes a pleasant sound,You plate appropriately on [top of] a large collector vat.
Ninkasi, the fermenting vat, which makes a pleasant sound,
You place appropriately on [top of] a large collector vat.
When you pour out the filtered beer of the collector vat,
It is [like] the onrush of the Tigris and the Euphrates.
Ninkasi, you are the one who pours out the filtered beer of the collector vat,
It is [like] the onrush of the Tigris and the Euphrates.
The gokkul vat, the gokkul vat,
The gokkUl vat, the lam-så-re vat,
The gakkul vat, which makes the liver happy,
The lam-sire vat, which rejoices the heart,
The ugur•bal jar, a fitting thing in the house
The so-gub jar, which is filled with beer,
The am-am jar, which carries the beer of the lam-sire vat.„
The beautiful vessels, are ready on [their] pot stands!
May the heart of your god be well disposed towards you/
Let the eye of the gokkuI vat be our eye,
Let the heart of the gakkul vat be our heart!
What makes your heart feel wonderful,
Makes [also] our heart feel wonderful.
Our liver is happy, our heart is joyful.
You poured a libation over the brick of destiny,
You placed the foundations in peace [and) prosperity,
May Ninkasi live together with you!
Let her pour for you beer [and] wine,
Let [the pouring] of the sweet liquor resound pleasantly for you!
In the…reed buckets there is sweet beer,
I will make cupbearers, boys, [and] brewers stand by,
While I circle around the abundance of beer,
While I feel wonderful, I feel wonderful,
Drinking beer, in a blissful mood,
Drinking liquor, feeling exhilarated,
With joy in the heart [and] a happy liver—
While my heart full of joy,-Unknown
[And] [my] happy liver I cover with a garment fit for a queen!
The heart of Inanna is happy again,
The heart of the queen of heaven is happy again!
Well now you do!
