John Dee (1527–1608/09) stands out as one of the most enigmatic figures of Elizabethan England. A man of extraordinary intellect and ambition, Dee was a polymath whose life spanned many disciplines: mathematics, astronomy, navigation, alchemy, magic, and espionage. As a trusted advisor to Quee
a. Social Symbolism
The presence of exotic spices and sugar in a pie indicated wealth and status. Serving a rich chewit pie at a banquet was a way for nobility to showcase their prosperity and cosmopolitan tastes.
b. Fusion of Sweet and Savory
The Tudor palate was fond of combining contrast
Making a Tudor chewit involved several steps:
Mincing and Seasoning the Meat: Meat was finely chopped or minced, often pre-cooked by boiling or roasting. It was mixed with fruits, spices, sugar, and sometimes nuts.
Preparing the Pastry: The coffin was rolled out and used to
Chewit (also spelled chawet or chuwet) refers to a pie made with minced meat mixed with fruits such as currants, raisins, apples, or pears, and flavored with sugar and spices. The filling was encased in a sturdy pastry crust called a coffin, often inedible and used primarily as a container.
Histo