Food History

On the Dangers of Erotic Truffles

A 19th-century investigation into the power of the aphrodisiac

"Gung Haggis Fat Choy" may be the only celebration that combines both traditional Robert Burns Night festivities, including bagpiping, with a celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy: This Canadian Celebration Combines Robert Burns Night and Chinese New Year

Started by "Toddish McWong" in 1998, the annual dinner has grown and grown

A London Music Hall Hid a Long-Forgotten Storeroom Packed With Condiments

Construction workers uncovered the tasty trove while excavating its foundations

The Ever Expanding World of Wine Takes Your Palate to Unexpected Places

Never before have so many diverse wines, from so many places, been available to so many people around the globe

A reconstruction of Ötzi the Iceman at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

Ötzi the Iceman's Last Meal Included Goat Bacon

Analysis of the 5,300-year-old mummy's stomach contents shows he ate dry-cured meat from a mountain ibex

As his ancestors have done for generations, Icelander Árni Hilmarsson catches an Atlantic puffin in a net called a háfur.

Disappearing Puffins Bring an Icelandic Hunting Tradition Under Scrutiny

Historically, hunting seabirds has been a distinctive feature of Nordic coastal culture. Should it still be?

Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Presidential Food?

In honor of Inauguration Day, here's a little quiz to see how much you know about presidential food history

Tony Lu prepares a dish.

Meet the Michelin-Starred Chef Pushing the Limits of Vegetarian Cuisine in China

Master chef Tony Lu discusses China’s changing tastes and his own innovative approach to 'Vegetarian Fusion'

On a chilly day in Tokyo, customers slurp hot ramen at the Tsukiji fish market.

You've Been Slurping Ramen All Wrong

In Japan, ramen is a culinary touchstone that goes way beyond food

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Atlas of Eating

Take an in-depth look at food and culinary culture around the globe, including in-depth stories and favorite recipes

Throw one back in honor of Robert Leo Hulseman, the inventor of America's most iconic cup.

How a Red Party Cup Became an American Icon

There's just something about Solo cups

Native Americans Saw Buffalo as More Than Just Food

The relationship between some Native American tribes and the American buffalo was a sacred one

A dog eats a special Christmas cake in Tokyo, celebrating with the festive red and white dessert. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

Why the Japanese Eat Cake For Christmas

A tradition beginning in war and ending in cake

The Fight to Save Thousands of Heirloom Apple Trees

There’s more to apples than the supermarket selection may suggest

The Patents Behind Christmas Sugar Confections

The popularity of candy canes and ribbon candy has a lot to do with 20th-century machines that sped up production

Eggnog is connected to a medieval drink called posset.

The Long, Rich, Boozy History of Eggnog

This December, we’re exploring the drink’s storied history

An ancient grape seed found at the Lake Hula site

The Paleo Diet May Need a Rewrite, Ancient Humans Feasted on a Wide Variety of Plants

Archaeologists in Israel have counted 55 species of plant foods a an early hominid site on Lake Hula

The Ancient Origins of Apple Cider

The classic fall drink has a boozy history going back thousands of years

An early cotton-candy machine.

People at the 1904 World's Fair Paid Half the Price of Admission for a Box of Cotton Candy

Celebrating cotton candy's sugary, innovative goodness

Much of Belgium's beer is made by Trappist monks.

Unesco Just Added Belgian Beer to Its Heritage List

The move celebrates the tiny country's huge love of suds

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