Cruet
Encyclopedia
A cruet also called a caster, is a small flat-bottomed vessel with a narrow neck. Cruets often have an integral lip or spout, and may also have a handle. Unlike a small carafe
, a cruet has a stopper
, lid, or phoedelia
. Cruets are normally made from glass, ceramic, or stainless steel.
and balsamic vinegar
. They often have a filter built into them to act as a strainer, so that vinegar containing herbs and other solid ingredients will pour clear. Cruets also serve as decanters for lemon juice, garlic juice, and other fine gourmet oils. They are also used for the serving of the wine and water in a Catholic
setting.
word cruet originates
with the Old French
crue, "earthen pot" Some speculate that the early use of cruets was ecclesiastical — there is for example Biblical use of a "cruse of oil," a jug or jar to hold liquid (I Kings
17:16). A few cruets dating from the Medieval ages still exist today. Its culinary use however was first introduced in the late 17th century. Cardinal Mazarin had a pair of salad cruets on his dining table at his home in France, one for olive oil and the other for vinegar. The use of oil and vinegar cruets rapidly spread throughout Italy, where oil and vinegar were already in frequent use. Oil and vinegar cruets are common on Italian tables to this day.
During some Christian
religious ceremonies, cruets are used to keep wine and water for Eucharist
. These cruets are usually made of glass, though sometimes they are made of precious metals such as gold or silver. Typically each cruet will also be paired with a phoedelia
(commonly referred to as a 'stopper'), often shaped as a cross, which protects the contents. Cruets specifically intended for religious ceremonies come in pairs: one to contain water, often marked A for Aqua, and one to contain wine , V for Vinum. (These two liquids are mixed during the ceremony.)
Carafe
The carafe , is used for serving wine and other drinks. Unlike the related [decanter], carafes do not include stoppers.Coffee Pots included in coffee makers are also referred to as carafes....
, a cruet has a stopper
Stopper (plug)
A bung is truncated cylindrical or conical closure to seal a container, such as a bottle, tube or barrel. Unlike a lid which encloses a container from the outside without displacing the inner volume, a bung is partially inserted inside the container to act as a seal...
, lid, or phoedelia
Phoedelia
Phoedelia is the ecclesiastical name for one of the stoppers which accompany the cruets used in the liturgical rites of the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches particularly. They are often made of glass and shaped in the form of a cross. They are usually produced in a pair for both the water and...
. Cruets are normally made from glass, ceramic, or stainless steel.
Uses
Cruets today typically serve a culinary function, holding liquid condiments such as olive oilOlive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
and balsamic vinegar
Balsamic vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is a condiment originating from Italy.The original traditional product , made from a reduction of cooked white Trebbiano grape juice and not a vinegar in the usual sense, has been made in Modena and Reggio Emilia since the Middle Ages: the production of the balsamic vinegar is...
. They often have a filter built into them to act as a strainer, so that vinegar containing herbs and other solid ingredients will pour clear. Cruets also serve as decanters for lemon juice, garlic juice, and other fine gourmet oils. They are also used for the serving of the wine and water in a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
setting.
History
The EnglishHistory of the English language
English is a West Germanic language that originated from the Anglo-Frisian dialects brought to Britain by Germanic invaders from various parts of what is now northwest Germany and the Netherlands. Initially, Old English was a diverse group of dialects, reflecting the varied origins of the...
word cruet originates
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
with the Old French
Old French
Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories that span roughly the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from the 9th century to the 14th century...
crue, "earthen pot" Some speculate that the early use of cruets was ecclesiastical — there is for example Biblical use of a "cruse of oil," a jug or jar to hold liquid (I Kings
Books of Kings
The Book of Kings presents a narrative history of ancient Israel and Judah from the death of David to the release of his successor Jehoiachin from imprisonment in Babylon, a period of some 400 years...
17:16). A few cruets dating from the Medieval ages still exist today. Its culinary use however was first introduced in the late 17th century. Cardinal Mazarin had a pair of salad cruets on his dining table at his home in France, one for olive oil and the other for vinegar. The use of oil and vinegar cruets rapidly spread throughout Italy, where oil and vinegar were already in frequent use. Oil and vinegar cruets are common on Italian tables to this day.
Types
Cruets range from nominal decanters to the highly decorative cut crystal. Some cruets are unusual, and can either be intended to be ornamental or functional.During some Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
religious ceremonies, cruets are used to keep wine and water for Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
. These cruets are usually made of glass, though sometimes they are made of precious metals such as gold or silver. Typically each cruet will also be paired with a phoedelia
Phoedelia
Phoedelia is the ecclesiastical name for one of the stoppers which accompany the cruets used in the liturgical rites of the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches particularly. They are often made of glass and shaped in the form of a cross. They are usually produced in a pair for both the water and...
(commonly referred to as a 'stopper'), often shaped as a cross, which protects the contents. Cruets specifically intended for religious ceremonies come in pairs: one to contain water, often marked A for Aqua, and one to contain wine , V for Vinum. (These two liquids are mixed during the ceremony.)