Hittite cuisine facts for kids

The Hittites were an ancient people who lived in a region called Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). They left behind many texts that tell us about their daily lives, including how they prepared and ate food. Their laws even explained how certain foods should be cooked and served!

Hittite cooking used a lot of dairy products, different kinds of meat, and grain products like wheat. They also used natural sweeteners like honey.

What Did Hittites Eat?

The Hittites loved bread! They had recipes for as many as 180 different types of bread. These breads came in various shapes and were made with many different ingredients. Imagine having so many choices for your toast!

Meat Dishes and Kebabs

Meat was a big part of the Hittite diet. Some experts believe that the Hittites were among the first to enjoy meat cooked on skewers, much like today's kebabs. The city of Adana in modern-day Turkey, which was called Adaniya by the Hittites, is still famous for its kebabs. This shows how some ancient food traditions continue even today!

Dairy and Other Foods

Hittite food recipes were often similar to those of other ancient civilizations, especially when it came to meat and dairy dishes. However, what made their cuisine special was the unique plants they used for cooking. Anatolia has its own special types of plants, which gave Hittite food a distinct flavor.

Drinks: Wine

The Hittites regularly drank wine. It wasn't just for meals; wine was also very important for their religious festivals and special ceremonies.

Hittite Food Today

Many food traditions from the Hittite era are still alive in Anatolia. Some people believe that the food eaten in Turkey today is a continuation of ancient Hittite cuisine. Books have been written about Hittite cooking, and the Hittite University in Çorum, Turkey, has even published articles about it. This shows how important and interesting their food history is!

See also

In Spanish: Gastronomía hitita para niños