The history of food and drink

The history of…

Exploring the fascinating histories of some of the world's most popular ingredients, drinks and food stuffs. These food podcasts delve into the past, up to the present, and on into the future..

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Latest episodes

Bottes being cooled in water as part of the history of cider

02-04-24Podcast / The history of…

The history of cider

14-09-23Podcast / The history of…

Best bits: The history of food

Antique illustration of outdoor party lunch during hunting

16-06-23Podcast / The history of…

From Paris to the local park – a potted history of picnics

multicolored glass bright on blue background and colorful texture. door and window decoration.

09-06-23Podcast / The history of…

A drop of faith – religion’s influence on alcohol

A British Ministry of food ration book from the second World War

02-06-23Podcast / The history of…

The tumultuous history of British cheese

Vegetables and fruit impaled on a kebab stick moving from black and white to vibrant colours from left to right. Food stuffs from left to right: aubergine, green pepper, orange, disected red chilli pepper

Sustainable

24-05-23Podcast / The history of…

The history of vegetarianism – from persecution to popularity

Rosh Hashanah Greeting - Whimsy illustration of Jewish new year greeting card.

05-04-23Podcast / The history of…

Passover – telling stories with food

aerial view on one blue collar worker stirring soy sauce in huge clay pod standing in a row

31-03-23Podcast / The history of…

The secrets behind mankind’s fascination with fermentation

Parents with daughter (8-9) eating breakfast at home (B&W)

27-02-23Podcast / The history of…

What’s the best food industry innovation since sliced bread?

24-02-23Podcast / The history of…

A surprisingly un-British story – the history of fish and chips

Eskimo woman in Alaska at ice fishing, woodcut, published 1885

17-02-23Podcast / The history of…

“Of Ice and Men” – how the cold stuff has shaped our culinary history

14-02-23Podcast / The history of…

Aphrodisiacs – is anything really up to the job?

Who's involved

Neil Buttery

Contributor

Evolutionary Biologist and Food Historian

When people ask 'how much is the British Empire and modern Britain dependent on sugar and slavery?' Well, there wouldn't be one without it.

Mary Gwynn

Contributor

Food Writer

The Jubilee saw people getting together, breaking bread together. We hadn't done that for a few years so there were a lot of symbolic things taking place.