The Medieval Period was a great time of change and discovery. Art techniques were altered, architecture was improved, and torture methods were refined. However, one thing that did not change during the Middle Ages was food. While styles of food were influenced by outside forces, diets, beverages and celebrations did not undergo any change.

A nobleman’s diet would have been incredibly different than that of a person lower down the social scale. The wealthy were often times provided with freshly killed meat and fish. However, meat was not always abundant, so they settled for whatever meat was available: usually fowl such as cranes and swan or fish and sea mammals. In addition to fresh meat, the nobility also had access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Interestingly, all fruit and vegetables were …show more content…
In the Middle Ages, alcoholic drinks were always preferred over water and milk. Wine was commonly drunk by the wealthy and was considered a healthy choice. The consumption of red wine was believed to brighten the mood, aid in digestion, and generate good blood. Spiced wines were also popular. When mixed with nutmeg, cloves, ginger or pepper, the wine was believed to act as an exterminator of unhealthy substances in the blood. Another prevalent alcoholic drink was mead, a honey based beverage. There was a wide range of flavors from additives during the fermentation so finding it commercially was difficult. Most mead drinkers made the concoctions in their homes. After some time, the drink became less common as a table beverage and was used for medicinal purposes. Towards the end of the Middle ages, beer and ale became more common in areas where grapes were not cultivated. Beer was an acceptable alternative, but there were many negative qualities assigned to the drink. Because of the beer’s quick intoxication effect, and cause of unappealing physical “deformities,” beer was not as loved as wine or