What did medieval people call almonds?

Answer 1

You may be thinking of blancmange or marzipan.

Blancmange is a well-known medieval almond-based dish (which is still made in present times in various forms as a savory dish or as a dessert dish). The historical blancmange originated during the Middle Ages. The ingredients were chicken or similar, which was usually shredded, almond milk, cream, sugar and rice. It was considered a very nourishing dish. It was also thought to be an ideal dish for the sick.

It is mentioned in the prologue to Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and it is found in its many variations in old European recipe collections. It is also mentioned in an early 15th century cookbook written by chefs of Richard II. In addition, almond milk was a very popular medieval thickening agent. It was prepared by steeping ground almonds in water, broth, or wine. Almond milk acted as a base or thickening agent in a wide variety of medieval desserts and, later, in Elizabethan dessert dishes.

Blancmange made as a desert (no chicken or rice) is a cold dessert, tipped out of a shaped mould after being allowed to go cold and set firm, made of milk or cream, sugar, rosewater, Gelatin or cornstarch, and traditionally flavored with almond).

When I was a child in the UK, blancmange was often served as one of the desserts at children's birthday parties. There are recipes for modern versions of blancmange, and several medieval recipes for the original blancmange dishes have survived. Both modern and mediaeval recipes are available online and in books.

Alternatively, you may be thinking of marzipan (almond paste). The medieval tradition of almond sugarcraft. In medieval times, marzipan was molded to create elaborate sculptures to impress guests at banquets and feasts. There would be such things marzipan fruits, figures, people, animals, trees, and even castles. Of course, almond sugarcraft continues today, particularly in European bakeries. Moreover, throughout the world we still have marzipan in such cakes as Battenburg, Stollen, Simnel, double-iced Plum cake, weddings cakes and birthday cakes.