TIL that lead(II) acetate has a sweet taste, and was historically used as an artificial sweetener. The Romans would boil unfiltered grape juice in lead pots to make a syrup used to sweeten wine an...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead(II)_acetate

cross-posted from: https://lemmit.online/post/5361366

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The original was posted on /r/todayilearned by /u/ICanStopTheRain on 2025-03-09 17:00:20+00:00.

Original Title: TIL that lead(II) acetate has a sweet taste, and was historically used as an artificial sweetener. The Romans would boil unfiltered grape juice in lead pots to make a syrup used to sweeten wine and fruit. Like many other lead compounds, it is neurotoxic.

115 points · 3 comments · view on lemmy.world

3 Comments

pikmeir@lemmy.world · 55 pts · 1y (1 reply)

Fun fact. This is why none of the Romans are still alive today.

laz_28@sopuli.xyz · 7 pts · 1y

Yep same for British Empire used to much lead

HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 13 pts · 1y

I read somewhere it’s thought that lead in wine to be sweeter is suspected as the reason for Beethoven’ deafness