The pie is one of the most loved foods amongst the Brits, and it may come as no surprise that every month we each tuck into an average of 2.2 pies. The pie (whether it’s hot or cold) has been named one of the most popular ‘comfort foods’ and is known for being a popular dish served in traditional pubs across the UK. Of course, it’s obvious we love pies, but do we know where they came from? If you’re a die-hard pie fan, or are simply intrigued, find out the surprising history of the pie below.
Everything you Need to Know About the History of the Pie
It’s interesting to see the journey of evolution when considering the history of the pie. With all the variations and flavours now circulating around, you might be surprised when you find out the origin of the creation.
Who Invented the Pie?
Believe it or not, it was in fact the Ancient Egyptians who were the first to create a dish that is similar to what we now know as a pie. Typically, they filled their ‘pies’ with honey and covered them in a crusty cake made from oats, wheat, rye and barley. It is also rumoured that a recipe for a chicken pie was discovered on a tablet carved prior to 2000 BC (a long time ago!). Further down the timeline, The Ancient Greeks were believed to have invented pie pastry that is more similar to what we eat nowadays. The Ancient Romans then took the dish further by modifying it to hold meats and juices, but it was not intended to be eaten. Then the building of roads began, and so the ‘pie’ made its way around Europe, evolving at every destination.
History of the Pie in Europe
When the pie arrived in Britain in around the 14th century, the word ‘pie’ was in circulation with a Medieval Latin meaning of ‘meat and fish encased in pastry’. Pies were also not intended for eating - they were commonly used to help meats last longer on sea voyages as they could be stacked easier. By the Medieval period, pies were used as a centrepiece for large banquets for important people at exclusive events. Anything would be baked inside the pies and the surprise of the lid unveiling was used to impress guests.
Pies and the Queen
During the age of Elizabeth I, Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, the pie came out in full force. Due to the pies' ties to banquets and luxury, the very first cherry pie was presented to Elizabeth I- and it is reported that her opinion is unknown to this day! Her feedback can’t have been too bad, as this then introduced the notion of eating pies with a sweeter filling for a dessert, which was then used throughout Shakespearean plays to disguise poison.
Did you know?
The festive ‘mince pie’ can be traced back to the 13th century, when European crusaders returned from the Middle East with recipes containing meats, fruits and spices. This version of the mince pie was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone during the lead up to Christmas- a tradition that has continued to modern day. But due to their religious connection, Oliver Cromwell banned mince pies during his reign in the 17th century. So for 16 years, pie eating and making went underground and was enjoyed in secret until 1660. Now that we can enjoy pies, what's your favourite?
Fancy a Pie?
From learning about the history of the pie, it’s no surprise as to why we Brits take pride in the traditional meat and fish pie (as they are the best!). The sweeter options like pumpkin, key lime and apple pie have now been adapted by our American friends across the pond. Has talking about the history of the pie made you fancy one?
Browse our selection and treat yourself to handcrafted, delicious pies delivered to your door. We have meat, vegetarian and vegan options available, a pie for everyone!
FAQs
Who Invented the Pie? Believe it or not, it was in fact the Ancient Egyptians who were the first to create a dish that is similar to what we now know as a pie. Typically, they filled their 'pies' with honey and covered them in a crusty cake made from oats, wheat, rye and barley.
What is the history of pie food? ›
The Ancient Egyptians were the first to invent a dish close to what we know as a pie today. They had a honey filling covered in a crusty cake made from oats, wheat, rye or barley. A recipe for chicken pie was also discovered on a tablet carved prior to 2000 BC.
What is the history of pie dish? ›
The history of the pie has its roots in ancient Egypt and Greece. The ancient Greeks ate pie (artocreas), though it was of the savory type with meat in an open pastry shell. The Romans may have been the first to create a pie that included a top and bottom crust.
What is the oldest type of pie? ›
Pie History
Egyptian “pies” were called galettes, with the crust consisting of ground oats, rye, wheat, or barley and contained honey on the inside. These pies were sweet in nature and evidence of them can be found on the tomb walls of the Pharaoh Ramesses II, who ruled from 1304-1237 BC.
Why is pie named pie? ›
The word "pie" is derived from the Latin word "pica," which means "magpie." This Latin term was used to describe a type of dish that contained a mixture of various ingredients, much like a magpie collects a variety of objects.
What is the short history of pie? ›
Here's a brief history of finding π. The ancient Babylonians calculated the area of a circle by taking 3 times the square of its radius, which gave a value of pi = 3. One Babylonian tablet (ca. 1900–1680 BC) indicates a value of 3.125 for π, which is a closer approximation.
Who invented the pi? ›
Archimedes developed the polygonal approach to approximating π. The first recorded algorithm for rigorously calculating the value of π was a geometrical approach using polygons, devised around 250 BC by the Greek mathematician Archimedes, implementing the method of exhaustion.
What are three interesting facts about pie? ›
The first pie recipe was published by the Romans for a rye-crusted goat cheese and honey pie. The early pies were predominately meat pies. Pyes (pies) originally appeared in England as early as the twelfth century. The crust of the pie was referred to as “coffyn”.
What do pies stand for? ›
What are the PIES? PIES are the four areas of a child's development- physical, intellectual, emotional, and social. Each of these areas is important to a child's overall development and a parent should engage their children in the PIES every day.
What is the most famous type of pie? ›
Apple Pie. What it is: Somehow both quintessentially English and American, this may be the most famous pie of all. In Britain it goes back to the 1300s, and the earliest recipe includes figs and raisins. Modern recipes tend to consist of apples, sugar, butter and cinnamon encased in shortcrust pastry.
It's the first Greek letter in the words “periphery” and “perimeter,” and pi is the ratio of a circle's periphery — or circumference — to its diameter.
What does the P in pie stand for? ›
PIE is an acronym for Point, Illustration, and Explanation. It is used in body paragraphs to help students figure out how to include examples and quotes.
What are the first 1000000 digits of Pi? ›
3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510 etc. Before you click remember - it's a byte a digit! The first 1000000 decimal places contain: 99959 0s, 99758 1s, 100026 2s, 100229 3s, 100230 4s, 100359 5s, 99548 6s, 99800 7s, 99985 8s and 100106 9s. There's one '3' before the decimal point...
What is the history of American pies? ›
The Origins of Pie-Making in America
As European settlers arrived in America, they brought with them their cherished pie recipes, laying the foundation for what would become a significant culinary tradition. In colonial times, pies were a practical way to preserve and use fruits, meats, and other ingredients.
When was pie first celebrated? ›
The first Pi Day celebration was organized by physicist Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium in 1988. The 2015 Pi Day was called the "Pi Day of the Century," because its date in the day-month-year format was 3-14-15, which gives the first four digits of pi. This splendid event occurs but once it a century.
