Translations:Portuguese cuisine/7/en

Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, the Portuguese lived mostly from husbandry. They grew cereals, vegetables, root vegetables, legumes and chestnuts, poultry, cattle, pigs, that they used as sustenance. Fishing and hunting were also common in most regions. During this period, novel methods to conserve fish were introduced, along with plants like vines and olive trees. Bread (rye, wheat, barley, oats) was widely consumed and a staple food for most of the populations. Sweet oranges were introduced in Portugal by portuguese traders in the 15th century. Many of today's foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, chilli, bell peppers, maize, cocoa, vanilla or turkey were unknown in Europe until the post-Columbus arrival in the Americas in 1492.