What Did Medieval Peasants Drink?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The villagers drank water and milk. The water from a river was unpleasant to drink and the milk did not stay fresh for long. The main drink in a medieval village was

ale

. It was difficult to brew ale and the process took time.

What drinks did medieval people drink?

The nobles would drink

wine and beer

, wine being favourable, but the latter would only tend to be served during important celebratory occasions. More commonly, the majority of Europeans making up lower social class standings would consume drinks such as ale, fruit juice, cider and mead.

Did peasants drink water?

One of the oddest myths about the Middle Ages is that

people did not drink water

. Many books and articles have repeated the notion that water was so polluted during this period that medieval men and women would only drink wine, ale or some other kind of beverage. … Instead, they would speak of drinking ale or wine.

What did medieval peasants eat and drink?

Medieval peasants mainly ate

stews of meat and vegetables

, along with dairy products such as cheese, according to a study of old cooking pots.

Did peasants drink milk?

Dairy products

It would mostly come from cows, but milk from goats and sheep was also common.

Plain fresh milk was not consumed by adults except the poor or sick

, and was usually reserved for the very young or elderly. Poor adults would sometimes drink buttermilk or whey or milk that was soured or watered down.

Did medieval children drink alcohol?

At mealtimes in the Middle Ages,

all drank small beer

, regardless of age, particularly while eating a meal at the table. Table beer was around this time typically less than 1% ABV.

Is rainwater safe to drink?


Avoid using rainwater for drinking

, cooking, brushing your teeth, or rinsing or watering plants that you intend to eat. Instead, use municipal tap water if it is available, or purchase bottled water for these purposes.

What did Normans drink?


Wine

was considered to be the most prestigious drink during the middle ages, and under the Normans our wine consumption increased. Although Daniel of Beccles would warn “Beware of drinking wine greedily like Bacchus”.

What did the rich eat in medieval times?

Rich and poor alike ate a dish called

pottage

, a thick soup containing meat, vegetables, or bran. The more luxurious pottage was called ‘mortrew’, and a pottage containing cereal was a ‘frumenty’. Bread was the staple for all classes, although the quality and price varied depending on the type of grain used.

What did medieval wine taste like?

Naturally taste also mattered, and while modern-day people usually classify tastes as salty, sweet, acidic and bitter, his medieval counterpart would find anywhere between seven and thirteen types of tastes,

including fat, vinegary and brusque

.

What did peasants do for fun?

For fun during the Middle Ages, peasants danced, wrestled, bet on cockfighting and bear baiting,

and played an early version of football

. An early version of football pitted groups of men against one another with a crude ball and even cruder rules. During middle ages, peasants had to pay rent and taxes to the lord.

What did most peasants eat?

Peasants generally lived off the land. Their diet basically consisted of

bread, porridge, vegetables and some meat

. Common crops included wheat, beans, barley, peas and oats. Near their homes, peasants had little gardens that contained lettuce, carrots, radishes, tomatoes, beets and other vegetables.

What desserts did peasants eat?

-sweet dishes :

pudding, tarts, crustards, patties, wafers

, doughnuts, pancakes, marzipan cakes (almond cakes), compotes, creams and fruit cooked in hyppocras. -salt dishes custards, tarts, cheese pies (marzipan turnovers), doughnuts (ancestors to ravioli) wheat foods to go with the meats, venisons.

Where did peasants get their food from?

The peasants relied mainly

on pigs for their regular supply of meat

. As pigs were capable of finding their own food in summer and winter, they could be slaughtered throughout the year. Pigs ate acorns and as these were free from the woods and forests, pigs were also cheap to keep. Peasants also ate mutton.

What did they eat for breakfast in medieval times?

Romans called breakfast jentaculum (or ientaculum). It was usually composed of everyday staples like

bread, cheese, olives, salad, nuts, raisins, and cold meat

left over from the night before. They also drank wine-based drinks such as mulsum, a mixture of wine, honey, and aromatic spices.

What did Vikings eat?

Vikings ate

fruit and vegetables

and kept animals for meat, milk, cheese and eggs. They had plenty of fish as they lived near the sea. Bread was made using quern stones, stone tools for hand grinding grain.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.