# What would've been the easiest way to prevent scurvy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wouldve-been-the-easiest-way-to-prevent-scurvy/711816 "2015-02-04T17:23:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wouldve-been-the-easiest-way-to-prevent-scurvy/711816/21 "2015-02-05T21:29:20Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Was wondering about pine (or other conifer) needles, or perhaps a needle infusion in their rum. This seems like a good idea, if you can store pine needles so they retain their potency you can make pine needle tea. I wonder what plants can be stored for months that will retain their vitamin C. If you really needed to I assume you could take a live pine needle tree grown in a barrel of dirt with you. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wouldve-been-the-easiest-way-to-prevent-scurvy/711816/22 "2015-02-06T03:28:54Z")
How about salt-cured lemon or lime, as it’s used in contemporary Moroccan cuisine? ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wouldve-been-the-easiest-way-to-prevent-scurvy/711816/23 "2015-02-06T21:21:42Z")
I’d go with a super concentrated syrup of kalamansi lime juice and honey. Chock full of vitamin c and the honey acts as both a sweetener and a preservative. Shelf stable for at least a year without refrigeration. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wouldve-been-the-easiest-way-to-prevent-scurvy/711816/24 "2015-02-07T00:39:38Z")
> [@GiantRat](#): > > Potatoes work. But they are a new world vegetable, not available in Europe at that time. > [@EdwinAmi](#): > > I would think plain dried fruit, which was a relatively mature industry and common product Common, but only for the rich – it was expensive. For poor people, it only appeared at the Christmas holidays, as fruitcake. > [@kanicbird](#): > > Was wondering about pine (or other conifer) needles, or perhaps a needle infusion in their rum. Would probably work, but pine trees were not that common in england (they preferred planting oaks that could be used for ships’ masts). Also. pine needles don’t taste very good. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wouldve-been-the-easiest-way-to-prevent-scurvy/711816/25 "2015-02-07T00:46:50Z")
> [@GiantRat](#): > > Potatoes work. But they are a new world vegetable, not available in Europe at that time. > [@EdwinAmi](#): > > I would think plain dried fruit, which was a relatively mature industry and common product Common, but only for the rich – it was expensive. For poor people, it only appeared at the Christmas holidays, as fruitcake. > [@kanicbird](#): > > Was wondering about pine (or other conifer) needles, or perhaps a needle infusion in their rum. Would probably work, but pine trees were not that common in england (they preferred planting oaks that could be used for ships’ masts). Also. pine needles don’t taste very go ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wouldve-been-the-easiest-way-to-prevent-scurvy/711816/26 "2015-02-07T23:58:02Z")
> [@susan](#): > > How about salt-cured lemon or lime, as it’s used in contemporary Moroccan cuisine? The lemons actually worked successfully, to mostly avoid scurvy on British ships. The system fell over when the Brits switched from using imported European lemons to using True British Lime Juice. The limes had low C to start with, and boiling the juice destroyed what was left, so, unlike the 'krouts, the limeys kept getting scurvy until long voyages were made impossible by the introduction of steam. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wouldve-been-the-easiest-way-to-prevent-scurvy/711816/27 "2015-02-08T00:11:04Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Also. pine needles don’t taste very good. Pine needle tea is actually pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@Rich\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_1)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wouldve-been-the-easiest-way-to-prevent-scurvy/711816/28 "2015-02-08T19:58:41Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > In the Age of Discovery? Assume the ships captain will listen to your advice on victuals, what would be the easiest and/or cheapest way to ensure the crew doesn’t become a bunch of scurvy dogs on voyages that lasted months? > > My best guess, make a load of [hagebuttenmark](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagebuttenmark), rosehip preserve. Although the problem there is it needs sugar which might be a bit pricey. I’m sure there are better options though, whadya reckon? I took a food and nutrition science class and ships stocked limes to prevent scurvy. Apparently a lime a day was enough. It is probably due to the hard shell of the lime which makes it easier to preserve whereas a red pepper which is high in vitamin C - I would guess it doesn’t preserve as well? Go with the limes. However, if you are responsible for a ship and you really want to be certain they remain healthy, it will be well worth your investment to give the ship crew more than just one lime. Give them at least 2 limes and probably a good supply of canned vegetables and potatoes and salt. Potatoes with salt (not too much or too little) will help keep their muscles from cramping. There is much more to a productive healthy crew than just limes. Other fruits like lemons and things like dried roasted sunflower seeds will help keep them healthy as well and probably don’t go bad quickly either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wouldve-been-the-easiest-way-to-prevent-scurvy/711816.md?page=1)