The Vikings, or Norsemen have been a seafaring individuals initially from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late eighth to the eleventh century AD, raided, traded and settled all through components of Europe, in a interval that grew to become often called the Viking Age.
Generally depicted as being fearless, brutal warriors, Vikings have been additionally achieved farmers, and fishermen. They grew all varieties of grains, together with wheat, oats, barley and rye, and tended to orchards to supply recent apples, plums and cherries.
Within the household social construction, the person usually labored the farm and fished through the day, whereas the girl cared for the family, youngsters and animals, and delt with most different points of home residence life.
Mealtime was normally twice a day, the primary being within the morning (dagmal) and when the day’s work was executed (nattmal). Current as an agricultural society, the standard Viking weight-reduction plan was nicely rounded and included an abundance of meat, greens, fruits and grains. Reindeer, goat, elk, mutton, poultry and fowl have been available, however beef, lamb and pork have been the popular alternative in a Viking family.
The meat was largely boiled into thick stews with greens, salt and seasonings, and served with un-yeasted bread. Most meals have been cooked over a fire within the centre of the principle dwelling space of particular person houses, the place they made hearty meals for sustaining exhausting labour.
An abundance of meals meant that they have been ready so as to add extra curiosity and flavour to their meals. Quite a lot of herbs and spices, together with coriander and cumin have been typically added, together with butter that was made by shaking small coated earthenware containers of cream right into a smooth unfold. The ensuing buttermilk was additionally consumed as a drink or used for making cheese. Greens, spices or different components that weren’t in a position to be foraged, hunted or grown, might be traded for or purchased at native markets.
One other fashionable dairy product, skyr, corresponding to trendy yogurt, was produced by splitting the milk into two components, liquid whey and the thicker skyr (much like Greek-style yogurt). It had a pure sweetness and was typically consumed as is or was blended with porridge or different flavour enhancers.
Fish was additionally a staple of the seafaring Norsemen and made up round 25% of their weight-reduction plan. Herring and cod have been ample and have been extensively consumed, whereas Eels and trout have been fished out of Europe’s freshwater lakes utilizing fish nets or barbed hooks. All fish was both smoked, pickled or salt-dried, saved for lengthy journeys or to maintain a family through the harsh winters.
For a candy ending to their hearty meal, the Vikings loved snacking on dried fruits served with honey. Honey was additionally fermented into a powerful mead utilizing wild yeast, uncooked honey and numerous flavourings equivalent to elderberries, cherries, rose hips, crab-apples, cardamon and pepper.
Written by Julie St Jean
Supply: www.heritagedaily.com