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Seasonality of Anglo-Saxon Foodstuffs

'what to cook and when to cook it'

I created this table to help me when deciding what to eat at events. All the foodstuffs included here are authentic - referenced from floral and faunal assemblages in excavation reports and contemporary written records. Availability is based on the modern growth period, but as the climate was slightly different back in the Dark-Ages, this table may not be 100% accurate. It's a start though. . .
 

Dark-Age fruit and vegetables would have been much smaller than the ones we have now, although, being grown organically may have tasted better!

 

Also, many fruits and vegetables could have been dried and stored, and thus would be available in the months when fresh foods weren't.  See the 'non seasonal' section for comments on this.

It is important to remember that food was regional as well as seasonal.  So if you lived by a river you could eat more fish than a person living inland, for example.  Non seasonal foodstuffs are at the bottom.

January     February    March    April    May    June 
July    August    September    October    November   December    Non Seasonal 

Feb

February

Cereal

Flowers

Violets

Fruit

Greens 

Alexanders

Herbs and Spices

ParsleyPepper

Meat

(see Non Seasonal)

Nuts

Vegetables

Cabbage; Carrot; Celery; Cole; Leek; Parsnip; Swede

Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Non

Non Seasonal

Cereal

Most cereals can be stored for use throughout the year.

Dairy

Drinks

Eggs

  • more available in summer as chickens need a certain amount of daylight to stimulate their egg-laying

  • 6 chickens will give 4 to 6 eggs per day

  • no rooster/cockerel is needed unless you want chicks

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds, if kept correctly, can be stored for use any time of the year.

References:

Enhanced DBS     Level 2 Hygiene Certificate in Food Handling     Allergen Awareness     Safeguarding

Public and Products Liability Insurance £12mil     Equality and Diversity     Health, Safety and Environment Awareness

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