Conger eel for dinner, anyone? In this video Dan Snow gets a taste of what Tudor royalty would have enjoyed when they sat down at a lavish banquet. Knives at the ready, we’re serving up venison, sweet potatoes and marchpane, all flavoured with spices from the New World.
The Tudor period is named after the House of Tudor, the ruling family that held the English throne from 1485 to 1603. And, the most well-known member of that dynasty is Henry VIII.
Henry VIII’s reign is often remembered for his six wives and his fuller figure.
But why was Henry so overweight? Well, one of the reasons is likely to have been his very hearty diet. Henry regularly feasted on roasted meats and fatty fish and was known to love snacking on sugary treats.
So, what did the Tudor kings and queens really eat at a royal banquet?
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00:00 Introduction
00:55 Venison
03:00 Conger eel
04:43 Sweet potato
06:18 Marchpane
07:41 Ale
08:26 The Tudor world