Herbs and Spices
Herbs and Spices were used to add flavor to food or drinks. They were introduced during crusades in the Middle Ages. During a feast different spices and herbs were passed around the table to each person. As the plate passed each person, the person would take the spices and herbs they wanted and/or needed. Below is a list of some of the spices and herbs used during the Middle Ages.
- Pepper - The most sought after spice. Black pepper was the most expensive. Imported from Asia and later Africa.
- Cinnamon - A Spice made from bark of the Cinnamomum zeylanicum
- Cloves - Cloves were indigenous to the Moluccas, or Spice Islands, of Indonesia
- Nutmeg - Spice made from seeds also indigenous to the Moluccas, or Spice Islands, of Indonesia
- Ginger - Ginger was a spice also known as 'Grains of Paradise', also called Atare Pepper, was used as a substitute for the more expensive black pepper during the 1300 and 1400's
- Saffron - The dried aromatic stigmas of this plant, was used to color foods and as a cooking spice and dyes
- Cardamon (aka Cardamom ) was a spice made from the whole or ground dried fruit a plant of the ginger family, indigenous to India and Sri Lanka
- Coriander - A Spice made from seeds and leaves and a relative of the parsley family
- Cumin - Spice made from the dried fruit of a plant in the parsley family
- Garlic - A spice imported by the Romans
- Turmeric - Spice made from a root, related to ginger and has a vivid yellow-orange color
- Mace - A spice made from the dried fleshy covering of the nutmeg seed
- Anise - A liquorice flavored plant whose seeds and leaves are used to spice a variety of dishes
- Caraway - Caraway or Persian cumin are the small, crescent-shaped dried seeds from a herb
- Mustard - A spice with a pungent flavor, either used as seeds or ground
MEdieval Feasts
What was the Purpose of a Medieval Feast? The purpose of a medieval feast was to celebrate the birth of royalty, conquests, and marriages.
Where in the Castle Would a Feast take Place? A feast would normally take place in the Great Hall of the castle.
Who Might be Invited to a Feast? A King might invite nobility, royals, and knights to a medieval feast at his castle.
What Types of Food Might be Served at a Feast? The Count of Anjou hosted a feast with the food below. These things might also be found in other feasts.
Where in the Castle Would a Feast take Place? A feast would normally take place in the Great Hall of the castle.
Who Might be Invited to a Feast? A King might invite nobility, royals, and knights to a medieval feast at his castle.
What Types of Food Might be Served at a Feast? The Count of Anjou hosted a feast with the food below. These things might also be found in other feasts.
- On the table was placed a centre-piece, which represented a green lawn, surrounded with large peacocks' feathers and green branches, to which were tied violets and other sweet-smelling flowers
- In the middle of this lawn a fortress was placed, covered with silver
- The fortress was hollow, and formed a sort of cage, in which several live birds were shut up, their tufts and feet being gilt
- On its tower, which was gilt, three banners were placed
- The first course consisted of a civet of hare, a quarter of stag which had been a night in salt, a stuffed chicken, and a loin of veal
- The two last dishes were covered with a German sauce, with gilt sugar-plums, and pomegranate seeds
- At each end, outside the green lawn, was an enormous pie, surmounted with smaller pies, which formed a crown
- The crust of the large pies were silvered all round and gilt at the top
- Each pie contained a whole roe-deer, a gosling, three capons, six chickens, ten pigeons, one young rabbit, and, no doubt to serve as seasoning or stuffing, a minced loin of veal, two pounds of fat, and twenty-six hard-boiled eggs, covered with saffron and flavoured with cloves
- For the three following courses, there was a roe-deer, a pig, a sturgeon cooked in parsley and vinegar, and covered with powdered ginger
- A kid goat, two goslings, twelve chickens, as many pigeons, six young rabbits, two herons, a leveret, a fat capon stuffed, four chickens covered with yolks of eggs and sprinkled with spice, a wild boar, some wafers and stars
- A jelly, part white and part red, representing the crests of the honored guests
- Cream covered with fennel seeds and preserved in sugar
- A white cream, cheese in slices, and strawberries
- And, lastly, plums stewed in rose-water
- Besides these four courses, there was a fifth, entirely composed of the prepared wines then in vogue, and of preserves. These consisted of fruits and various sweet pastries
What Types of Herbs and Spices might be used? Some herbs and spices that might be used include pepper, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, saffron, cardamon, coriander, cumin, garlic, turmeric, mace, anise, caraway, and mustard.
What is Falconry? Falconry is the sport of hunting with falcons or other birds of prey and keeping and training them.
What Other Entertainment Besides Falconry was Popular During the Middle Ages? Other entertainment from the Middle Ages include jousts and tournaments, Mystery Plays, fairs, games, and sports, hunting, and animal entertainment using dogs, bears, and monkeys.
What Types of Musical Instruments were Popular? The Musical Instruments popular are the follows:
What is Falconry? Falconry is the sport of hunting with falcons or other birds of prey and keeping and training them.
What Other Entertainment Besides Falconry was Popular During the Middle Ages? Other entertainment from the Middle Ages include jousts and tournaments, Mystery Plays, fairs, games, and sports, hunting, and animal entertainment using dogs, bears, and monkeys.
What Types of Musical Instruments were Popular? The Musical Instruments popular are the follows:
- The Harp - The harp was a favorite instrument of the troubadours and minstrels and was about 30 inches in length
- The Fiddle - There were a variety of Medieval Fiddles which were played with a bow or plucked and usually held under the chin or in the crook of the arm. Easily portable and one of the most popular street musical instruments
- The Rebec - The rebec was an instrument with a round pear-shaped body much like an early violin
- The Psaltery - The Psaltery was a musical instrument of the Middle Ages which was a cross between a harp and a guitar
- The Dulcimer - The Dulcimer was played by striking the strings with small hammers
- The Hurdy-gurdy - the hurdy-gurdy was introduced to England during the 12th century - the bow was replaced by strings attached to a wheel which was cranked by a handle
- The Viol - Viols were played with a bow and held on the lap or between the legs
- The Flute - Similar to our modern flutes. This type of Musical instruments played by flute-minstrels of the Middle Ages
- The Trumpet - Long instrument made of metal, often in four parts - often associated with fanfares and pageants
- The Pipe - The pipe was an extremely basic instrument usually having only three melody holes
- The Shawn - The shawn was a reed instrument with vent holes
- Recorder - The recorder was also an extremely basic instrument with melody holes
- The Bagpipe - The Bagpipe was an ancient instrument, used by the poorest people and was made using a goat or sheep skin and a reed pipe
- The Crumhorn - The crumhorm (Curved Horn) was introduced in the 1400's as a double reed musical instrument
- The Gemshorn - The gemshorn was made of an ox horn and played as a flute-like musical instrument
- The Lizard - The lizard was a descriptive term for an s-shaped horn
- The Drum - Drums were made initially from a hollow tree trunk, clay or metal and covered by skins of water animals - also called tambours
- The Cymbal - Thin round concave metal plates
- The Triangle - The triangle was a musical instrument introduced during the 14th century
- The Tambourine - This Musical instrument was traditionally used by a woman