PRESERVATION, FERMENTATION & EXPLORATION

A gastronomical journey

An episode from the series THE HISTORY OF FOOD

Synopsis

The dry-curing process used by Ötzi the Iceman enabled the storage of meat and the preservation of fruits and vegetables, crucial for surviving harsh seasons.

We also explore the science of fermentation, demonstrating its transformative effects in turning essential ingredients like wheat into nutritious bread and fermenting fruits and grains into alcoholic beverages, which served as essential hydration sources when clean water was scarce.

Preservation and fermentation connect to the Age of Exploration, showing how these technologies enabled long sea voyages and global trade, influencing diets and food cultures worldwide.