7 votes

To pay rent in Medieval England, catch some eels

8 comments

  1. [6]
    stu2b50
    Link
    You can still get jellied eels at tesco today. Note: not very good. Eel doesn’t have a strong taste, so it’s fishy jello with some white fish meat inside. Unagi it is not.

    You can still get jellied eels at tesco today.

    Note: not very good. Eel doesn’t have a strong taste, so it’s fishy jello with some white fish meat inside.

    Unagi it is not.

    3 votes
    1. Baeocystin
      Link Parent
      Jellied eels are one of those foods that reminds you that hunger used to be a lot more prevalent in the world.

      Jellied eels are one of those foods that reminds you that hunger used to be a lot more prevalent in the world.

      2 votes
    2. [3]
      Banisher
      Link Parent
      Canning comes later than medieval history, and even an eel apsic would probably only last a few cool days. I have to assume they were salting these eels? Or was it like I want 2 eels every Friday...

      Canning comes later than medieval history, and even an eel apsic would probably only last a few cool days. I have to assume they were salting these eels? Or was it like I want 2 eels every Friday as rent? I didn't see anything in the article about preservation.

      1. [2]
        stu2b50
        Link Parent
        The preservation was more for a day. Jellied eels was akin to "street food" - something a working class laborer in london would grab on the way back from work. The natural jellification would...

        The preservation was more for a day. Jellied eels was akin to "street food" - something a working class laborer in london would grab on the way back from work. The natural jellification would allow vendors to make batches, cool them, and sell the batch throughout the day. But it certainly would not keep beyond it.

        2 votes
        1. Banisher
          Link Parent
          I went and looked up some pictures... For me, it does not look appealing. Entire cross sections of eel in greyish clear jelly. Ancestors were made of more grit and determination than me I think.

          I went and looked up some pictures... For me, it does not look appealing. Entire cross sections of eel in greyish clear jelly. Ancestors were made of more grit and determination than me I think.

    3. kari
      Link Parent
      Unagi though 🤤🤤🤤

      Unagi though 🤤🤤🤤

  2. Kerry56
    Link
    I wonder if they accepted shrieking eels as payment?

    I wonder if they accepted shrieking eels as payment?

    1 vote
  3. tomf
    Link
    barely related, but I eat a lot of bbq eel (unagi) and would LOVE to break down an eel one day (brutal process, if you're thinking of watching videos) :)

    barely related, but I eat a lot of bbq eel (unagi) and would LOVE to break down an eel one day (brutal process, if you're thinking of watching videos) :)