The Wandering Trail: Episode Two

Hello wanderers, and welcome back! As part of our episode notes, we've created this "Wandering Trail." In our second episode, we dove into the delicious (and sometimes not-so-delicious) world of Middle-earth food! From the magical sustenance of Lembas bread to the jaw-breaking reality of Cram, we explored how food tells us so much about the cultures of Tolkien's world. If you listened and thought, "Wait, I want to know more about that!" this guide's got your back.

Listen to Episode 2

The Magic of Lembas Bread

The ultimate survival food, Lembas is the Elves' secret weapon—a thin cake wrapped in Mallorn leaves that can sustain you for an entire day with just one bite. But it's way more than just a protein bar. This ancient recipe from the Valar has spiritual properties, can only be made by a select few in Lothlorien (looking at you, Galadriel), and literally repels evil. We argued that Lembas is the real MVP of the Fellowship's journey to Mount Doom. Without it, Frodo and Sam would never have made it.

• Where to find it: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 2, Chapter 8: Farewell to Lórien) and The Two Towers (Book 4, Chapter 4: Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit).

• For a deeper dive: The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part 2, Chapter 13: Last Writings) has Tolkien's notes on Lembas, including its sacred nature and restrictions on who could make and use it.

  
  

The Practicality of Cram

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, we have Cram—the Men of Dale's answer to survival food. Tolkien describes it as "biscuitish," keeps indefinitely, is "supposed to be sustaining," and is "very uninteresting except as a chewing exercise." Ouch. We speculated that Tolkien might have been inspired by the terrible hardtack rations from his WWI service. Even Gimli wasn't impressed when he tried it, and we debated whether the Dwarves are just secretly terrible bakers since they don't seem to have their own version.

• Where to find it: The Hobbit (Chapter 13: Not at Home) and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 2, Chapter 6: Lothlorien, where Gimli compares it unfavorably to Lembas).

• For a deeper dive: The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (Letter 210 to Forrest J. Ackerman) includes some discussion of food and provisions in Middle-earth.

The Artisanal Delight of Beorn's Honey Cakes

Splitting the difference between magical Lembas and miserable Cram, we have the honey cakes of Beorn and the Beornings. These cakes are described as twice as good as any food you've ever tasted, they're light but filling, and they last for days. The secret ingredient? Honey from Beorn's giant magical bees. You can't just buy these at the market though—you have to pass the "Beorn vibes test" and earn his trust. We decided these are the artisanal, small-batch option of Middle-earth cuisine.

• Where to find them: The Hobbit (Chapter 7: Queer Lodgings, where Bilbo and the Dwarves feast at Beorn's hall).

• For a deeper dive: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 2, Chapter 6: Lothlorien) mentions the Beornings and their trade in goods, suggesting these cakes had a reputation beyond just Beorn's household.

Try It Yourself: Middle-earth Inspired Recipes & Cookbooks

Ready to bring a little bit of Middle-earth into your own kitchen? Here are some of our favorite resources for making Tolkien-inspired dishes:

Cookbooks

• The Unofficial Hobbit Cookbook by Robert Tuesley Anderson – From seed cakes to roasted mutton, this has recipes for every meal mentioned in The Hobbit.

• An Unexpected Cookbook by Chris-Rachael Oseland – Gorgeous photos and creative takes on Middle-earth cuisine, including Lembas and honey cakes.

• The Lord of the Rings Official Cookbook – The officially licensed cookbook with recipes inspired by both the books and films.

Online Recipes

• Lembas Bread Recipe (The One Ring) – A popular take on Elvish waybread that actually tastes amazing.

• Beorn's Honey Cakes (Feast of Starlight) – A beautiful blog dedicated to Middle-earth recipes with stunning photography.

• The Inn at the Crossroads – Recipes from fantasy literature, including extensive LOTR options.

• Nerdy Nummies: Lembas Bread – Rosanna Pansino's take on Lembas with a fun video tutorial.

Whether you're hosting a Hobbit-themed dinner party or just want to try your hand at making Lembas for your next hike, these resources will help you bring the flavors of Middle-earth to life!

Fun Tangents We Couldn't Resist

Would There Be Food Tourism in Middle-earth?

We got distracted imagining bougie millennial hobbits traveling around Middle-earth trying to get the secret honey cake recipe for their Instagram. We decided that yes, there probably were food tourists, especially in peaceful times. Prancing Pony energy, anyone?

Pumpkin Spice Lembas

We joked about a rogue elf creating seasonal flavors of Lembas and all the other elves being absolutely scandalized. #PSLseason might not have gone over well in Lothlorien.

The Mystery of Missing Dwarven Cuisine

Why don't the Dwarves have their own special travel food? We know they love ale and meat off the bone (thanks, Gimli), but there's no mention of Dwarven waybread or survival cakes. Are they secretly the worst bakers in Middle-earth, or do they just rely on Cram from the Men of Dale?

The Fate of These Foods

We ended on a bittersweet note: when the Elves sailed to the Undying Lands at the end of the Third Age, the recipe for Lembas likely went with them. Unless Arwen wrote it down or passed it to someone in Gondor (which isn't mentioned), this incredible food was lost to time—much like how family recipes can disappear if we don't preserve them. It made us think about documenting our own family's culinary traditions before they're gone. Cram, on the other hand, lives on. Bilbo apparently got the recipe during his adventures and brought it back to the Shire, so at least that one survived (even if nobody really wanted it to).

Questions for You, Dear Wanderer

We'd love to hear from you! Here are some questions we posed in the episode:

• What flavor do you imagine Lembas to be? We thought lemon, honey, and lavender, but we want to know your take!

• Have you tried making any Middle-earth inspired recipes? Share them with us!

• Which Middle-earth food would you most want to try—Lembas, honey cakes, or would you brave the Cram?

• Do you have family recipes that need to be documented before they're lost?

We hope you loved getting lost with us on this delicious journey! Remember: not all those who wander are lost, but some of us are definitely looking for snacks.

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