Database: Food and Drink

The food consumed in medieval Japan was greatly influenced by its different social classes. Rice was a primary staple for the ruling and urban class, while barley, millet. and panic were everyday food for peasants. Noodles made from wheat flour were also widely consumed in temples and towns. Fish was the most common source of protein, and all types of it were consumed; it was also eaten raw as sashimi, but it was not before the Edo period that sushi as it is known today was created. An early version of sushi, nare-zushi, existed in the 16th century and was made by marinating raw fish with rice and fermenting it with lactic acid, giving it a sour taste and allowing it to be preserved for a long time. The tempura style of cooking dates to the 16th century when the Portuguese introduced fried foods to Japan. Among meats, birds were the most consumed. Chicken was the most common, while crane, swan, and wild goose were highly prized by nobles and warriors. It is probable that neither beef nor pork were consumed.

As for drinks, besides alcohol. tea was produced in much of the country in the 14th century. 'Tea contests' where the objective was to guess the place of the tea's origin became common among the warrior class. In the 16th century, the custom of drinking tea had spread among the great merchants, but the general population did not drink tea before the Edo period.