What Food Was Actually Like in the Elizabethan Period

Oh what a time to be alive in late 16th Century England!

Queen Elizabeth I was defending her throne while some plotted against her in favor of her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. Regardless, Elizabeth's reign cemented Britain as a global powerhouse in arts, culture, and cuisine. (Particularly sugary foods, we'll soon find out.). Under Elizabeth's rule, the aristocracy enjoyed a meat-heavy diet with plenty of decadence and splendor - though some of their customs may leave us scratching our heads now.

#QueenElizabethI #foodhistory #WeirdHistory

[aprilwaves]

Would love to see a video of pre-colonization Hawaii and other pacific islands!

[jenniekelly]

When you said, "How do you milk an almond? Probably have to have a little bucket." I lost it, to me that was so funny!!

[titangirl]

The sugar thing is how the wedding cake came to be. While it was customary for a large wedding dinner to be held, if you were rich, you could flaunt just how rich you were by getting a huge cake, filled with sugar, to serve your guests. Nowadays everyone has a wedding cake, but I have no idea why we inexplicably save the top part to eat a year later

[lancelotdufrane]

Regardless of the literal food items, I have such respect for the sense of community and honest desire to help each other.

[squeezybob]

I'm English and "cheese and crackers" is still an after dinner affair, not often, but we still do it on occasion. Usually with grapes or other light finger foods to complement the cheese and crackers

[aaronhurst]

Many restaurants still serve a cheese board as dessert today, at least around Europe

[sophiejones]

Spices weren't usually used to cover the taste of food that was rotting, rather they were used for *preventing* food from rotting. Of course, unscrupulous tavern owners and merchants existed in the Elizabethan era too, but eating spoiled food was absolutely not the norm.

[Blitzkrieg]

I've heard of the black teeth trend in Japan also. (Ohaguro) It was pretty much a fashion statement and attractive back when.

[kenyattaclay]

I'm so glad you included that part about almond milk because I've been trying to tell people that it has been a thing for a LONG time & not something that people just created. I didn't know quite how far back but I've read about it being part of diets in the late 18th century. It's nice to know it's almost 1000 years.

[TH-hykr]

There is a wonderful historical inn called The George Inn located in Laicock Village, England, UK, which features one of the wheels that used a turn spit dog. Pretty cool bit of history and lots of lovely architecture in the area.

[trerhodes]

The fact the rotting teeth were seen as attractive is crazy lmao

[Tamara-dbep]

I'd like to hear about what the Egyptians ate normally.

[minuteman]

It wasn't the British navy that beat the Spanish Armada, it was the English Navy. The British Navy didn't come into existence until England and Scotland were united as a single kingdom a hundred odd years later.

[Dedaf]

I watch these every day while I work to stretch my brain please do one on libraries 😮

[ProfessorDreamer]

Weird History can you do a video on Extravagant Foods The Russian Nobility Ate.

[bearnaff]

I am edified that you mentioned turnspit dogs. This makes me so happy.

[leesashriber]

Your channel always fascinates me. Very interesting to see how much we take for granted in the advances of food. Thank you!! 😊

[Chefsandrajm]

As a professional chef I was excited to see this pop up in my feed and very glad to have watched! Fun and informative thx

[NewMessage]

" ...you probably need a really small bucket."


Not to mention tiny, tiny hands.

[scrotooftheninefingers]

Yo, don’t be talking smack on that Yorkshire pudding, Cuz. Shit is straight fire with some gravy