Gàidhlig / English
Bainne Gamhnaich

Bainne Gamhnaich

Posted by Abi on 11th August 2016

The phrase bainne gamhnaich originates from Tigharry on the Isle of North Uist, meaning a drink which is made with milk and oatmeal. The drink was used to give strength to young men but it had to be made with the milk of a black Highland cow who had no calf, and with oats that came from the north side of a field. Bainne gamhnaich is in Dwelly’s Dictionary meaning ‘the yearling's milk’ but also ‘Red rattle, {lousewort} (pedicularis sylvatica) in the Highlands’ and ‘honeysuckle in Ireland (lonicera periclymenum).’

There are different words and expressions across Gaelic-speaking Scotland for bainne gamhnaich and we have lots collected on our website at DASG. The word fuarag was collected in Killin, Perthshrie meaning ‘sour cream (half churned) and oatmeal’ and the word ullag was collected on the Isle of Skye for ‘thick cream with oatmeal. Also as “ollag” in Sutherland’. Deoch bhàn came from the Isle of Lewis meaning ‘oatmeal drink to quench thirst.’

I don’t think that bainne gamhnaich would have been very tasty, but I’m sure that it was very useful for building up strength when young folk were out working. There is also a famous saying about it:

“Hunger is a good cook,
Fall foul those who scorn food,
Cold barley gruel from the heel of my shoe,
The finest meal I’ve ever had.”

 
There is more information about this saying in Alan J. Bruford and Donald A. MacDonald (eds.), Scottish Traditional Tales (Edinburgh: Polygon, 1994), pp. 422–24.
 
Have you ever tried bainne gamhnaich or do you know of any other ways of making it? If so, we would be interested to hear from you. You can leave comments under our blogs or send us a message on Facebook or Twitter (@DASG_Glaschu).
 
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