The latest luxury ingredient in these decadent times is what is euphemistically known to the hedonistic Euros as ‘white caviar.’ Or, if you must know, eggs of the North African Great Grey Snail, a domesticated form of Cornu aspersum.
Raised by a small but growing number of helioculturists or snail farmers in France and Spain, a single snail lays about 100 eggs weighing about three grams twice a year. These are also known as ‘Pearls of Aphrodite’ for their supposed aphrodisiac quality. Rich Romans, Egyptians and Greeks once positively doted on them but strangely despite their supposed encouragement to ancient love life, these civilizations no longer flourish.
