{"id":1318,"date":"2023-02-25T04:40:58","date_gmt":"2023-02-25T03:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=1318"},"modified":"2023-02-25T04:40:58","modified_gmt":"2023-02-25T03:40:58","slug":"did-ancient-romans-use-fish-sauce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/did-ancient-romans-use-fish-sauce\/","title":{"rendered":"Did ancient romans use fish sauce?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yes, the ancient Romans used fish sauce, which they called garum. This sauce was made from salted, fermented fish, and it was a common flavoring used in cooking.<\/p>\n

Ancient Romans did not use fish sauce.<\/p>\n

What fish sauce did Romans use? <\/h2>\n

Garum was a popular condiment in ancient Rome made from fermented fish guts. It was used to add flavor to a variety of dishes and was especially common among the lower classes who could not afford more expensive seasonings. While its exact recipe is unknown, it is thought to have been made by layering fish guts and salt in a container and allowing them to ferment for several months. The resulting liquid was then strained and used as a seasoning. Garum was so ubiquitous in Roman culture that the word “garum” was used to describe any strong-smelling substance, regardless of its actual composition.<\/p>\n

The first recorded fish sauce was produced by the ancient Greeks along the coastline of the Black Sea. The abundant fishery resources of the region may have been a significant factor in Greek colonisation of the area, even as early as the 7th century BCE.<\/p>\n