Ancient Greek Food

The ancient greek food diet was very much based on seafood. Another important protein source was chicken, livestock animals was mainly kept for milk or wool production. Greek wine and olive oil was early on exported around the Mediterranean.

Agriculture
Even though Greece was quite fertile and large parts covered in forests it has always been rocky. The dominant crops were barley and wheat, they were hard to grow and harvest. They were used to make various types of bread and other grain products. Maybe that is why olive oil and wine early became exported, grapes and olives thrive in Greece and are easy to harvest. Vegetables like onion, cabbage, garlic, lentils and chick peas were common. There were not many fruits available, when eaten it was mostly dried and as an dessert - grapes, figs and pomegranates, the two latter were imported species.

Meat and Fish
As mentioned above, the main source of protein was seafood. Goats and sheep were common and provided milk for cheese making and wool for textiles. Meat was not on the poor mans table every day, but still quite common and then from chicken and pig. As always, the rich could indulge themselves and ate various types of meat. Hunting could give access to hares and wild fowl.

Beverages
Wine was extremely common, the best qualities was drunk by the rich or exported while cheaper types was consumed by ordinary people. Wine was drunk in many manners; sweetened, spiced and always diluted with water. "Chykeon" was a slightly alcoholic drink that could contain different things, lightly fermented barley was the base, a bit like an ancient protein shake.

Spices and Seasoning
Just like in ancient Egypt honey was the general sweetener. Spices were used to some extent, examples are thyme, mint and oregano.

Cooking And Food Preservation
Clay ovens were commonly used for making various types of bread and also quite elaborate puddings, cheesecakes and pastries. Otherwise it was simple open fire cooking. Preservation methods were drying, salting and pickling, the latter many times in honey. Click here to get to my Ancient Greek Food Recipes page


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