Almost no day goes by without her majesty, the soup, at lunch. Although we eat it almost daily, most people do not know its rich and interesting history. Based on archaeological research, scientists have come to the conclusion that the consumption of soup dates back to 6,000 years BC. There was a Nile horse soup on the table at the time!

The first soup bags

During an expedition in the 1700s, famous English sailor and explorer James Cook, brought with him a small cube soup concentrate. It is the first recorded use of ‘soup in a bag’. This instant meal was prepared from cooked meat and bone. Although it seemed weird and not at all tasty, when mixed with warm water, it was extremely appealing to Cook’s sailors who needed cooked food to strengthen their weary organisms.

The most amazing soups in the world

Since soups are eaten in all cultures, states and nations, there are innumerable varieties and variations of it. One of these is Tibetan soup, made from grass by pressing the leaves into square molds the size of a building brick. Afterwards, women would cut out a small portion of this mass and cook it with dumplings made from flour and butter. Some soups are also used as an aphrodisiac such as bull soup. It is a specialty made from onions, carrots and sexual organs of bulls, which, judging by the stories, have strong aphrodisiac properties.

Soup – made from a bird’s nest ?!

We all probably at least once ate chicken soup or soup made from another bird, but did you know that one of the biggest specialties in China is bird’s nest soup! This specialty is made by the Chinese from the nests of small pigeons that live in the caves of Southeast Asia. It is an edible bird’s nest, also called “Eastern caviar”. This is one of the most expensive foods in the world. A pound of this product costs around $ 2,500 on average, and can go as high as $ 10,000!

Soups are usually served in plates and other deeper bowls from which they are eaten with a spoon or directly drunk from a dish.