Ambrosia

In Greek mythology, ambrosia was used to nourish the gods of Olympus: its nectar being the drink of choice. According to Hesiod and his following of poets, the immortals living in the Olympian mansions nourished themselves solely on the pure and bloodless food of ambrosia, drinking only the nectar, a distillation of refined dew.

The word signifies `immortal'; the drink was balsamic and designed to ensure immortality. Humans who were permitted to drink the nectar would become immortal; they would also gain in beauty and strength, making them in some way akin to the gods.

The name ambrosia has also been applied to various drinks of exceptional taste and oftentimes to sweet drinks, which are both mythed to have retained some of the glory of the celestial drink of the gods. Certain fruit salads and puddings also bear the name ambrosia.