Explanation: Romans had a taste for garum, fermented fish paste. They put it on everything - bread, meat, fruit, even in their wine! Garum was considered so vital that it was a part of many slaves’ rations; and while low-quality garum was everywhere, high quality garum, like high-quality wine, could go for truly exorbitant prices - some garum off the coast of modern Portugal went for 1000 sestercii for a gallon and a half - over a year’s wages for a common worker!

How’s this different from fish sauce, an essential component of Vietnamese and Thai cuisine?