A brief history of salt and pepper | Edible Histories Episode 7 | BBC Ideas

Salt and Pepper: A Familiar Pairing

Salt and pepper became a familiar pairing across much of Western Europe and America through centuries of trade, changing food fashions, and advances in tableware.

Salt’s Early Importance

People have used salt since prehistoric times, gathering it from seawater and salty lakes or mining it underground. Salt improved the flavor of food and helped preserve meat and vegetables, making it one of the world’s most important commodities.

The Romans developed salt production, and their language left traces in words still used today: sal means “salt” in Latin, and salary and salad are linked to it.

Salt as a Status Symbol

In medieval Europe, salt was expensive and often controlled by the state. Ornate gold and silver salt vessels displayed wealth and rank. To sit “below the salt” meant occupying a less prestigious place at the table.

Although food was usually seasoned in the kitchen, diners might add salt themselves, following established etiquette.

Pepper’s Changing Fortunes

Pepper was one of many medieval spices and could be extremely costly. In the 1430s, a pound of peppercorns cost as much as a pig.

Portuguese control of the pepper trade and large-scale cultivation in India in the late 15th century increased supply and lowered prices. By the 16th century, “peppercorn rent” meant a token payment.

How the Pairing Took Shape

French culinary fashions helped bring salt and black pepper together. French cooks simplified medieval cuisine, drew a clearer distinction between sweet and savoury dishes, and reduced the number of spices used. Salt and pepper became a common combination in fashionable cooking.

From Status to Everyday Tableware

By the Victorian era, salt and pepper were becoming standard seasonings. Salt cellars made salt available to ordinary diners, while the Morton Salt Company’s 1911 patent for easy-flow salt helped make salt shakers practical.

Pepper shakers followed in the 20th century. Later, British holidaymakers’ exposure to freshly ground pepper helped popularize pepper mills.

Other Seasoning Traditions

Salt and black pepper are not universal. Some cultures pair salt with chilli instead, and many other condiments—including pickles, sambals, vinegars, fish sauces, and salsas—also have a place at the table.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Narrator: A voiceover identified in the video description as food historian Annie Gray.
• No other speakers or interviewees are featured in the subtitles.