Modern hot cross bun

Hot Cross Buns: Discovering the Easter Treat’s Rich History

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The hot cross bun, a cherished Easter symbol in the UK and worldwide, carries a tale woven through centuries, shrouded in mystique and tradition. While its origins remain clouded in history’s fog, it is said that the journey of the hot cross bun begins in the 14th century at St Albans Abbey. According to legend, Brother Thomas Rocliffe, a 14th-century …

Still Life with Fruit, Nuts and Cheese (1613) by Floris van Dyck (Wikimedia Commons)

The Medicine behind food – from starters to desserts 

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Think of a traditional European meal. First, you’d have starters, maybe a soup, then your main dish, usually something with meat, then you might have dessert, or cheese – or even both! And, depending on what you’re eating, you might be advised to pair it with different wines, or ale. Of course, how people eat varies widely across time and …

The Birth of Venus, by Sandro Botticelli (1480s). Credit: Wikimedia.

The Fascinating World of Aphrodisiacs

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When most of us think of aphrodisiacs nowadays, we imagine a menu of oysters and chocolate, perfect for Valentine’s Day – even if the odd garlic or fenugreek makes an apparition here and there. In the modern world, aphrodisiacs are meant to stimulate the body and increase sexual pleasure: the word comes from the Greek goddess of love and sex, …

Head of St Catherine of Siena displayed at the Basilica of San Domenico. (Wikimedia Commons)

‘Holy Anorexia’: The Fascinating Connection between Religious Women and Fasting

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Social media might make it seem like fasting (and especially intermittent fasting) is something new. But fasting – voluntarily or not – has arguably existed for as long as humans have. People have abstained from food throughout history for many different reasons, not least of which scarcity of nourishment (think of hunter-gatherers during a harsh winter).