Food
Nobody went hungry in Ancient Egypt. The River Nile meant that food was plentiful. The land around the River Nile was very good for growing fresh fruits and vegetables.
The ancient Egyptians loved garlic. They also ate green vegetables, lentils, figs, dates, onions, fish, birds, eggs, cheese, and butter. Their staple foods were bread and beer.
Breads were sweetened with dates, honey, and figs or dates. They had flatbreads. They even had yeast breads. Breads were made with barley and wheat.
Beer was the most common drink in ancient Egypt. There were very few wells. Most ancient Egyptians did not want to drink water directly from the Nile because it could make them sick. The beer was very thick, about the thickness of a milk shake. Beer was safer than drinking water from the Nile. The Egyptians made both white and red wine from grapes. They added spices and honey to various wines for variety. They made a fruit drink from dates.
Some fish were sacred. But some kinds of fish were eaten after being roasted, or dried and salted. They ate pigeons and waterfowl. The rich ate beef, but beef was expensive. They ate pigs for a while, but the priests decided that pigs were not a good thing to eat, and pork was removed from their diet.
The ancient Egyptians definitely had a sweet tooth. There was popular recipe for a fancy desert made with bread, cream, and honey. They made a bread that was like a cake.
Except in times of drought, when everyone suffered, no one in ancient Egypt needed to go hungry. Pharaoh did not begrudge his people food. They were free to fish the Nile and gather eggs. Grain was stored centrally so that all could share. Food was dried and stored in lidded containers.
The ancient Egyptians loved garlic. They also ate green vegetables, lentils, figs, dates, onions, fish, birds, eggs, cheese, and butter. Their staple foods were bread and beer.
Breads were sweetened with dates, honey, and figs or dates. They had flatbreads. They even had yeast breads. Breads were made with barley and wheat.
Beer was the most common drink in ancient Egypt. There were very few wells. Most ancient Egyptians did not want to drink water directly from the Nile because it could make them sick. The beer was very thick, about the thickness of a milk shake. Beer was safer than drinking water from the Nile. The Egyptians made both white and red wine from grapes. They added spices and honey to various wines for variety. They made a fruit drink from dates.
Some fish were sacred. But some kinds of fish were eaten after being roasted, or dried and salted. They ate pigeons and waterfowl. The rich ate beef, but beef was expensive. They ate pigs for a while, but the priests decided that pigs were not a good thing to eat, and pork was removed from their diet.
The ancient Egyptians definitely had a sweet tooth. There was popular recipe for a fancy desert made with bread, cream, and honey. They made a bread that was like a cake.
Except in times of drought, when everyone suffered, no one in ancient Egypt needed to go hungry. Pharaoh did not begrudge his people food. They were free to fish the Nile and gather eggs. Grain was stored centrally so that all could share. Food was dried and stored in lidded containers.
- Wealthy people: They ate meat and drank milk. They had wild birds and eggs. They ate a lot of vegetables and dates. Dinner was served on a small table, which was brought to each individual. People ate their food with their fingers. They rinsed their hands between courses, and as needed.
- Poor People: The lower class ate fresh bread, onions, vegetables, fish, eggs, and beer. People ate their food with their fingers, while lying on mats woven from reeds.
- Write a menu for an Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh..