Medieval Beverages - Life in Medieval Days

Medieval life involved thick stew, bread fresh from the nearby bakery, perhaps some eggs from your pet chicken. What did the medieval person drink with their meal?

First, medieval people rarely drank water. Water can carry all sorts of bacteria in it. They would boil their water for soup and stew, but they would not drink it "raw" as a beverage.

Next, medieval people saw milk as a drink for children only. Keeping a milk cow was a luxury. Few adults would drink milk.

For health reasons, they tended to drink alcoholic beverages. The alcohol in the beverage would prevent organisms from growing in it. The antioxidants in wine would help to keep the people healthy. This tradition lasted well into colonial American days. People would easily drink 8 or more servings of alcohol in a day as a normal routine.

To start with there was mead. This is a honey alcoholic beverage. "Honeymoon" comes from the practice of a newly married couple drinking mead for one month solid to help ensure their fertility.

Apple cider was always alcoholic. This can be made in a variety of ways, with mead added, with other flavorings added.

There was ale from grain, and beer was unfiltered and very thick. You literally filtered it with your teeth while you drank it!

And then of course there's wine, which has been enjoyed for thousands of years. The English knew all about wine! I run a wine site and have TONS of pages on the history of wine, including photos of wine casks and descriptions of wine in medieval times. Visit WineIntro.com to learn more about wine in the medieval world.

Medieval Eating
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Medieval Food

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