Strange Foods That People Really Ate During Colonial Times

During colonial times, people had to make do with whatever they had around, and this mindset was even used when preparing food.

Living off of the land and using every part of their cattle was important to colonial people, and a lot of their favorite foods reflect that.

We might turn up our noses at some of these dishes today, but there are still plenty of people in the country who love these delicious relics of the past.

Roasted Beaver Tails

Today, they’re usually a protected species, but in the 17th and 18th centuries, beavers were hunted all over North America for their pelts.

Hungry trappers stuck out in the wilds didn’t want to waste any part of the beaver, so they ate the tails too.

It’s been described as having a gamey flavor, but it was pretty much just fat. It became a popular dish throughout colonial America — almost as popular as the beaver pelts they originally came from!

Eel Pie

Not many people today would consider an eel to be a delicacy, but in colonial times, eels were considered to be such a desirable dish that people in New England would actually use lobsters as bait to catch them.

Eel meat was eaten in a variety of ways, but a popular way to prepare it was in a pie.

If you’re keen on trying eel today, you might be interested to know that eels are still sold in shops in London and throughout England.

Make a trip out there if you’re feeling brave enough to try something your great-great-great-grandparents had for special occasions!

Ambergris

You may have known that whale vomit has been a component of perfume for centuries, but did you know that in the 1700 and 1800s, it was a popular ingredient in many luxury dishes as well?

It was used in beverages, served alongside eggs, or added to hot chocolate in not only America but also around the world.

Ambergris is actually very hard to find since it’s only produced by a small percentage of sperm whales. It forms on the ocean surface and floats, but will only rarely make landfall.

Because of that, it’s been a very valuable substance for years.

Unusual Ice Cream Flavors

You may not know that ice cream was first introduced in colonial America in the mid-18th century, but it was with the advent of ice houses where it could be made and stored.

Ice cream was a popular dessert and even in the beginning, there were tons of delicious flavors available.

You may also not know that ice cream wasn’t all sweet at first — it was also flavored with eels, asparagus, or chestnuts, in addition to the normal sweet or fruity flavors.