The Royal Gift of Eel Pies

Medieval English monarchs were regularly gifted pies made from lampreys, a primitive, jawless fish. This tradition was so serious that a city was once heavily fined for failing to deliver one.

Lampreys were once considered a prestigious delicacy reserved for the elite and royalty. Cities used these strange, eel-like creatures as a strategic bribe to curry favor with the crown. The custom spanned centuries, eventually becoming a recurring tribute for special royal celebrations like coronations. While lampreys have largely vanished from modern menus, they remain a curious piece of culinary history tied directly to the throne.