What Did People Eat During The Black Plague?

When the Black Plague struck Europe in the 14th century, people didn't have much time to worry about their diets. Still, doctors warned that the most popular food and drinks in medieval England, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, could make people sick. Deemed healthy were items like meats, vinegar, and cooked fruit. For roughly three centuries afterward, millions of Europeans succumbed to sickness. The effects of the Black Plague influenced medieval food culture and directly shaped the way we live now.

#BlackPlague #FoodHistory #WeirdHistory

[Littleanimalsarecute]

Culinary topics I’d love to hear about: old wives’ tales food myths

[alm]

I am surprised how old almond milk and lemonade is. I thought almond milk was a relatively new thing.

[MrShitthead]

Fresh fruits making people sick in medieval times makes a lot of sense beyond the lead plates they were served on. Fun fact, almost half of all food poisoning cases in the US are due to unclean produce, 20% from milk and eggs, 22% from meats and poultry, and the rest from fish and sea food 6%.

Some things clearly don't change.

[Miss-Anne-Thrope]

I'm surprised that almond milk is such an old drink, I thought it was relatively new. For some reason I thought that it was from the 60s, don't know where I got that from though! 😅

Vinegar is also good for stopping my pet rabbits from chewing things, a little white vinegar and they won't go near it!

Oh and I prefer houmous with my 🥕

[theish]

The smallest of things we forget to think about. Licking fruit to clean it because clean water was impossible to find is wild

[TheElusiveReality]

Vinegar is acidic enough that it does kill bacteria, you can use vinegar to clean your house and it really does get rid of bad smells, adding some to potentially dirty water isnt that bad of an idea

[vakant-_-]

Honey and vinegar sounds close to a medieval take on a sweet balsamic reduction

[Skyebooo]

Spices are well known to have health benefits. It's disregarded by the health boards in the States but German, Chinese, and Japanese health boards all have positive studies. The problem is if you eat the Standard American Diet, no amount of tumeric is going to alleviate arthritis. You have to eat foods that reduce your inflammation first then the spices really work well.

[lisapop]

My grandma used to make a cough medicine with a base of honey & apple cider vinegar. It was surprisingly tasty. I wish I could remember what else was in it

[stevehall]

Your mastery of sarcasm warms my heart!

[nomdeplume]

Cloves have antibacterial properties.
Aspirin is derived from the bark of willow tree.

[theteacher]

How about videos on how School Lunches have changed over the decades and how School Lunches differ from each other around the world? Now those are topics that sound like Weird History videos!!! 😃🍞🥜🥕🍔🍕🍉🌮🥪🍟 ( Sorry, I went a little cray with the food emojis, haven't eaten yet)

[nicholasnarcowich]

I must be weird; I like most of the foods mentioned, especially Lemon, now growing some trees from seeds I liked.

[kariannecrysler]

Would love to know about honey. It’s importance, bee keeping, mead, & whatever else you can find 😊

[IRezinI]

This channel has taught me more then 12 years of school

[scarvice]

Weird History, Can you please make a video on the contributions to society made by Mexico/America, Aztecs, Mayans, Incas etc. For example the medical sciences The astronomical sciences and gastronomy. Also the benefits to Europe of the tons of mineral wealth that came from Mexico and the Americas. There is so much to cover just on this topic alone its hard for me to even put in words. There is absolutely no reference to this topic that I am aware of. It would be lovely to see such a video. Thank you.

[dorrin]

Some of these foods are actually pretty healthy, though they probably didn't help much if you contracted Plague.

[kimtodd]

Honestly I thought almond was a new alternative milk I am 46.
I have been watching weird history for good while now, I am learning more than I did in school. Weird history helps history more interesting

[TheGelasiaBlythe]

I love vinegary foods, but I've never thought of them as more healthy. I just grew up eating them, so I'm used to them. I also keep a spray bottle of vinegar because it makes my stove top and any mirrors look less streaky; and I need it when I make soap, so I can keep any stray lye from eating holes in my skin when I clean up.

[scottysblog]

Star anise is actually used in the production of Theraflu.