A new documentary explores Revolutionary-era food, showcasing the ingenuity of colonial Americans who transformed local crops, livestock, and wild game into a self-sustaining food system when European imports were no longer reliable.

Adapting to Survive

Host Capri Cafaro traveled to landmarks of colonial America, tracing the roots of foods integral to the nation’s palate today, including cheese and whiskey. Colonists turned milk into cheese because fresh milk spoiled quickly and used grain byproducts to make alcohol.

Cafaro sampled whiskey produced as it would have been at George Washington’s Virginia estate, Mount Vernon, describing it as ‘alcohol-grain-forward’ and contrasting it with a whiskey suited to a modern palate.

The documentary also explores the roles of Indigenous peoples, European settlers, and enslaved people in growing, harvesting, and preparing food. For example, Indigenous people shared their knowledge of making tea from local plants and herbs with colonists, which became a symbol of independence after the Boston Tea Party.

Cafaro was most struck by the innovation and ingenuity that settlers employed, which became a hallmark of the American identity. She hopes the documentary amplifies the voices of farmers, ranchers, fishers, and anyone who works to put food on the table.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.