Sweet Tooth

In medieval times, sugar was used as sparingly as spices, due to its high price. It was also believed to have medicinal properties, and it was used as a means to sell and serve medicine. Sweets, jams and fruit cheese find their origins in the apothecary’s shop.

From the 16th century onwards, sugar consumption was rising, not due to greater consumption per person – as sugar remained a luxury product until the 18th century – but because of the rapid population growth.

The 17th century saw a rise in sugar consumption, not for baking but for sweetening new drinks, such as hot chocolate, tea and coffee. Sugar was still scarce, which is why sweet recipes continue to use honey as a sweetener up until the 18th century.