
History Visits
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
Cereal
Fish
Carp; Chub; Cod; Dace; Eelpout; Flounder; Fluke; Grayling; Gudgeon; Haddock; Lamprey; Ling; Minnows; Mullet; Perch; Pike; Ray; Salmon; Scad; Shad; Smelt; Sprat; Trout; Whiting
Flowers
Fruit
Game
Birds; Wild Boar; Buck; Wild Duck; Wild Goat; Wild Goose; Hare; Pheasant: Pigeon; Plover; Red Deer; Roe Deer; Snipe; Woodcock; Woodpigeon;
Greens
Meat
(see Non Seasonal)
Nuts
April
Cereal
Fish
Bream; Burbot; Carp; Chub; Cod; Eelpout; Flounder; Fluke; Grayling; Gudgeon; Haddock; Herring; Ling; Mackerel; Plaice; Ray; Roach; Rudd; Salmon; Sandeel; Sandsmelt; Scad; Shad; Smelt; Spurdog; Sturgeon; Trout; Whiting; Wrasse
Greens
Alexanders; Chickweed; Cress; Good King Henry; Goosefoot; Mallow; Nettle
Herbs and Spices
Meat
(see Non Seasonal)
Nuts
May
Cereal
Fish
Bass; Bream; Burbot; Carp; Chub; Cod; Eelpout; Flounder; Fluke; Grayling; Gudgeon; Haddock; Herring; Ling; Mackerel; Plaice; Ray; Roach; Rudd; Salmon; Sandeel; Sandsmelt; Scad; Shad; Smelt; Spurdog; Sturgeon; Trout; Whiting; Wrasse
Flowers
Corn Marigold; Cowslip; Elder Flowers; Oxlip; Pot Marigold; Primrose; Rose; Violets
Fruit
Greens
Alexanders; Chickweed; Cress; Good King Henry; Goosefoot; Nettle
Herbs and Spices
Meat
(see Non Seasonal)
Nuts
June
Fish
Bass; Bream; Burbot; Carp; Chub; Cod; Dace; Eelpout; Flounder; Fluke; Grayling; Gudgeon; Haddock; Herring; Ling; Mackerel; Plaice; Pollock; Ray; Roach; Rudd; Saithe; Salmon; Sandeel; Sandsmelt; Scad; Shad; Smelt; Sturgeon; Tench; Trout; Whiting; Wrasse
Flowers
Corn Marigold; Cowslip; Elder Flowers; Pot Marigold; Primrose; Rose; Violets
Fruit
Greens
Alehoof; Alexanders; Cress; Fat Hen; Good King Henry; Goosefoot; Nettle
Herbs and Spices
Meat
(see Non Seasonal)
Nuts
July
Fish
Bream; Burbot; Carp; Chub; Cod; Dace; Eel; Eelpout; Flounder; Fluke; Grayling; Gudgeon; Haddock; Lamprey; Ling; Mackerel; Minnows; Plaice; Pollock; Ray; Roach; Rudd; Saithe; Salmon; Sandeel; Sandsmelt; Scad; Shad; Smelt; Sturgeon; Tench; Trout; Whiting; Wrasse
Flowers
Corn Marigold; Cowslip; Elderflowers; Pot Marigold; Rose; Violets
Greens
Herbs and Spices
Meat
(see Non Seasonal)
Nuts
August
Fish
Barbel; Bream; Burbot; Carp; Chub; Cod; Dace; Eel; Eelpout; Flounder; Fluke; Grayling; Gudgeon; Haddock; Lamprey; Ling; Mackerel; Minnows; Perch; Plaice; Pollock; Ray; Roach; Rudd; Saithe; Salmon; Sandeel; Sandsmelt; Scad; Shad; Smelt; Sprat; Sturgeon; Trout; Whiting; Wrasse
Flowers
Fruit
Apple; Bilberry; Blackberry; Blueberry; Cherry; Damson; Elderberries; Fig; Mulberry; Peach; Plums; Raspberry; Rowan berries; Strawberry
Game
Birds; Wild Boar; Buck; Dolphin; Wild Goat; Hare; Pigeon; Red Deer; Roe Deer; Snipe; Whale; Woodpigeon;
Herbs and Spices
Coriander/Cilantro; Dill; Fennel; Parsley; Pepper; Summer Savory;
Meat
(see Non Seasonal)
September
Cereal
Fish
Barbel; Bream; Burbot; Carp; Chub; Cod; Dace; Eel; Eelpout; Flounder; Fluke; Grayling; Gudgeon; Haddock; Herring; Lamprey; Ling; Minnows; Perch; Pike; Plaice; Ray; Salmon; Sandeel; Sandsmelt; Scad; Shad; Smelt; Sprat; Sturgeon; Trout; Whiting; Wrasse
Flowers
Fruit
Apple; Bilberry; Blackberry; Blueberry; Crowberry; Damson; Elderberries; Fig; Grapes; Mulberry; Peach; Plums; Raspberry; Rosehips; Rowan berries; Strawberry
Game
Birds; Wild Boar; Buck; Dolphin; Wild Duck; Wild Goat; Wild Goose; Hare; Pigeon; Plover; Red Deer; Roe Deer; Snipe; Whale; Woodpigeon;
Herbs and Spices
Coriander/Cilantro; Fennel; Mustard (seeds); Parsley; Pepper; Summer Savory;
Meat
(see Non Seasonal)
October
Cereal
Fish
Barbel; Bream; Burbot; Carp; Chub; Cod; Dace; Eel; Eelpout; Flounder; Fluke; Grayling; Gudgeon; Haddock; Herring; Lamprey; Ling; Minnows; Perch; Pike; Ray; Salmon; Scad; Shad; Smelt; Sprat; Sturgeon; Trout; Whiting; Wrasse
Flowers
Fruit
Apple; Bullace; Cranberry; Damson; Elderberries; Grapes; Hawthorn berries (haws); Medlar; Pear; Raspberry; Rosehips; Sloes
Game
Birds; Wild Boar; Buck; Wild Duck; Wild Goat; Wild Goose; Hare; Pheasant; Pigeon; Plover; Red Deer; Roe Deer; Snipe; Woodcock; Woodpigeon;
Meat
(see Non Seasonal)
November
Cereal
Fish
Barbel; Bream; Burbot; Carp; Chub; Cod; Dace; Eelpout; Flounder; Fluke; Grayling; Gudgeon; Haddock; Herring; Lamprey; Ling; Minnows; Mullet; Perch; Pike; Ray; Salmon; Scad; Shad; Smelt; Sprat; Trout; Whiting; Wrasse
Flowers
Game
Birds; Wild Boar; Buck; Wild Duck; Wild Goat; Wild Goose; Hare; Pheasant: Pigeon; Plover; Red Deer; Roe Deer; Snipe; Woodcock; Woodpigeon;
Greens
Meat
(see Non Seasonal)
December
Cereal
Fish
Carp; Chub; Cod; Dace; Eelpout; Flounder; Fluke; Grayling; Gudgeon; Haddock; Herring; Lamprey; Ling; Minnows; Mullet; Perch; Pike; Ray; Salmon; Scad; Shad; Smelt; Sprat; Trout; Whiting
Flowers
Game
Birds; Wild Boar; Buck; Wild Duck; Wild Goat; Wild Goose; Hare; Pheasant: Pigeon; Plover; Red Deer; Roe Deer; Snipe; Woodcock; Woodpigeon;
Greens
Meat
(see Non Seasonal)
Nuts
Non Seasonal
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more available in summer as chickens need a certain amount of daylight to stimulate their egg-laying
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6 chickens will give 4 to 6 eggs per day
-
no rooster/cockerel is needed unless you want chicks
References:
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Collins - How to Identify Edible Mushrooms - Patrick Harding, Tony Lyon, Gill Tomblin
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Sovereignty Journal 'Cooking in Time with the British Seasons' - http://www.sovereignty.org.uk/features/footnmouth/local9.html
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Garden Action Diary - http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_index.asp
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River Cottage Seasonality Table - http://www.rivercottage.net/whatsgoodnow/seasonalitytable.jsp?foodgroup=0
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The Great British Kitchen - http://www.greatbritishkitchen.co.uk/sd_calendar.htm
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The River Cottage Year - Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall