Name (also Hipocras, Hippocras, Hippokras, Hypokras, Ipocras, Ippocras, Ypocras) for a flavoured spiced wine that was heavily sweetened. The name is derived from the Greek physician Hippocrates (460-377 BC) because wine was attributed medicinal or healing properties in the Middle Ages. Various substances such as cinnamon, cloves, orange blossom, ginger, cardamom, marjoram, nutmeg and pepper were used to flavour the wine, while sugar and honey were used to sweeten it. This makes it very similar to mulled wine. It was very expensive at the time due to the costly spices and was therefore only customary at the courts of rich people and aristocrats.
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Egon Mark
Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)