Could 15th-century candied horseradish actually cure the Black Death?

Food & Drink · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Max Miller explores medieval medical history by recreating a 15th-century Spanish recipe for candied horseradish. While historical plague treatments were often extreme, this surprisingly palatable confection offers a glimpse into how people attempted to combat the Black Death through their diet.

The recipe originates from 15th-century Spain and involves a laborious preparation process. The horseradish must be cleaned, boiled until soft, and then soaked in cold water to remove its sharp saltiness. Historically, this soaking process lasted nine days, with the water changed daily, though modern testing suggests a shorter soak is sufficient for the flavor.

Once prepared, the horseradish is boiled in honey or syrup until the mixture reaches a consistency that forms threads. The ratio requires one pound of honey for every pound of horseradish. While the efficacy of such a cure against the plague is nonexistent, the result is a unique, sweet-and-spicy historical treat.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Could a bowl of apple porridge really cure the 14th-century Black Death?
• Desperate measures: the bizarre medical attempts to survive the Black Death
• How England’s medieval plague transformed the economy and sparked centuries of strict regulation
• The Black Death is not a relic of the past
• The 14th-century pandemic that rewrote the social contract of Europe
• Why did the colorful, ubiquitous Fruitopia drink vanish from school hallways and stores?
• Can you turn a historical soda recipe into potent moonshine?
• The mysterious mall beverage that everyone saw but almost nobody actually drank.
• How home cooks maintained dessert traditions despite strict rationing during the 1943 wartime era
• Is the electric blue raspberry flavor a real fruit or a synthetic invention?
• How a 1927 cookbook helped pioneer the modern gas oven
• Why is the taste of bubble gum impossible to describe accurately?

More in History of food and drink · More in Food & Drink · Latest · A–Z · All topics