The Sweet and Sticky History of Pudding

Who doesn't love pudding? Whether it's the creamy vanilla flavor or the luscious chocolate goodness, pudding always finds a way to make our taste buds tingle with joy. But have you ever wondered about the history of pudding? Where did this delicious dessert come from? Who invented it? What were the early versions like? Let's dive into the sweet and sticky past of pudding and find out.

Pudding has been around since ancient times, although it wasn't always the sweet treat we know today. The term "pudding" comes from the French word “boudin”, which may derive from the the Latin word "botellus" which means "small sausage." In medieval times, pudding was a savory dish made by mixing animal intestines, blood, and oats. Yum, right? But don't worry, pudding eventually evolved into a much more palatable dessert.

By the 19th century, pudding had become a staple of British cuisine and was enjoyed by both the upper and lower classes. The classic Christmas pudding, made with dried fruit, spices, and suet, is a prime example of this era. In fact, pudding was so beloved that in 1904, the British physicist J.J. Thomson used the term "plum pudding model" to describe the structure of atoms.

But pudding didn't just stay in Britain. Thanks to colonialism, it spread to other parts of the world. In the United States, tapioca pudding, made with tapioca pearls, milk, and sugar, became a popular dessert in the 1920s. And in India, rice pudding, known as kheer, has been a traditional sweet dish since ancient times.

Today, pudding comes in many forms and flavors. There's chocolate pudding, banana pudding, bread pudding, rice pudding, and so much more. And thanks to the invention of instant pudding in the 1940s, we can now enjoy this sweet treat in under five minutes. Hooray for convenience!

From its humble beginnings as a savory sausage-like dish to its current status as a beloved dessert, pudding has come a long way. It's fascinating to think about how this simple dish has traveled across time and space, bringing joy to countless people along the way. So the next time you indulge in a creamy cup of pudding, think how it has evolved to the treat we know and love today. 

Sources:

https://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpuddings.html#:~:text=Food%20historians%20generally%20agree%20the,were%20still%20mostly%20meat%2Dbased

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_pudding_model

https://www.spendwithpennies.com/chocolate-pudding/