Fantasy Castle

Character

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Food

Food for lower classes (Peasants)

• Most peasants lived off the land, rearing flocks, tilling fields and tending orchards. If they lived near the sea, lakes, rivers or streams, they would fish. But since they lived on land owned by churches or lords, they would only be allowed a portion of what they grew. In cities, the peasants would buy food from one another at the market.

• Peasants would make bread out of rye grain, that would make the bread very dark. In some communities they would make sourdough, which involves using a piece of dough you made the day before to make that day’s bread.

• Eggs were a source of food that was easy to come by as farmers kept chickens on hand.

• Cheese and butter would be sold and used in the farm.

• Jam would also be made as it was easy to preserve and sell.

• Peasants would not eat much meat. Chickens made money by laying eggs, pigs could be fattened and sold for profit and cows and goats would be used for milk. By killing any of these animals for food they would loose a portion of money. Poaching (hunting on private land owned by the lord) would come with severe penalties.

• Pottage and stew were a favourite of peasants as they could throw any vegetables or bit of meat or fish in a pot to cook for a few hours. It wasn’t a difficult dish to make and often inexpensive.

• Pies, pasties and pastries would be a favourite at inns and taverns in towns and cities most containing gravy, meat and vegetables.

• With most villages and farms set close to forests, many peasants could find berries at the edge of fields. Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries would have all grown wild.

Food for Nobility & Royalty

• Nobility and Royalty could always afford better food than the poor. However it might be a patch more unhealthy than the poor’s fare. Nobility and Royalty weren’t fans of vegetables.

• The rich would eat a lot of meat, much of which they would hunt down themselves on their own land. Deer, wild boar, rabbits, turkey and other wild creatures would all be on the table.

• Nobility and Royalty would be fond of fish as well. Lamprey eels was a delicacy only preserved for special occasions.

• They could afford salt which was important for preserving meat and fish. This would allow the castle/manor/palace to be stocked in times of winter or famine.

• They could also afford pepper and other spices, all of which could cost a fortune, to flavour their food.

• During a feast, they would eat off of platters made of precious metals but only if you were seated at the high table. Other less important guests would eat off a trencher, a piece of hollowed out stale bread.

• Sugar would be the height of dessert. The sugar would be shaped into fantastical formations to impress the noble guests. Tudor chefs would create edible sugar plates for Henry VIII to eat off of.

Info by : Instagram & Tiktok @inky.duchess

Smells

Woodsmoke- Warm, rich and crackling aroma of camping, bonfires and long winter evenings.

Tallow Candles - The alkaline-like, greasy scent of candles made in the traditional way.

Musty- The scent of mould, damp and decay.

Leather Hide - The potent aroma of a tannery, leather, animal hides and chemicals.

Roast Beef - The delicious aroma roast beef, just out of the oven.