A walk through any busy Maltese city will introduce you to an unending array of cuisines, ready to satisfy a range of tastes, ages, and budgets.

Before getting to this point, however, food in Malta was very often defined by the country’s geographical limitations, consumers’ social standing, and even political influences.

With that being said, here’s how food in Malta has developed; from prehistory all the way to the present day. Let’s go!

Neolithic Age (5000 – 2500 BC):

This was the earliest recorded civilisation in Malta and, thanks to the tools and remains found from this age, it is known that most Maltese people used to cultivate wheat and barley and also ate many types of animals, including sheep and goats.

Bronze Age (2500 – 750 BC):

The Maltese people of the Bronze Age ate very similarly to their Neolithic predecessors; however, they improved the production of olive oil, going as far as developing their own olive oil industry.

Phoenician Period (725 – 218 BC):

When the Phoenicians colonised Malta, they introduced the Maltese to the production of wine – a labour of love that is still practiced to this very day. They also introduced Malta to cereals and the production of cheese.

Roman Empire (218 BC – 870 AD):

The Romans educated Malta in what they considered to be the ‘right’ and ‘civilised’ way to eat. They helped the Maltese stop eating raw meat and start incorporating more vegetables in their meals.

Arab Period (870 – 1090):

During the Arabs’ stay in Malta, the nation was prohibited from drinking alcohol and eating pork, meaning that inhabitants were forced to bid farewell to wine-making for a couple of centuries. The Arabs are also believed to have introduced ‘semi-freddo’ desserts to the islands.

Medieval Period (1194 – 1530):

While Malta was being sold off from one baron to another during these 400 years or so, the way people ate depended mostly on which social class they belonged to.

Most poor people ate barley-centric dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner while the rich had access to meat and expensive imported spices.

The popularity of pork started growing again during this period, as people started adding this meat to their vegetable soup. This practice led to the development of the recipe nowadays known as kawlata.

Knights of St John (1530 – 1798):

It was during this period that the Maltese started using cutlery. The rich were even introduced to ‘exotic’ fruits of the likes of bananas and pineapples, new drinks like tea and coffee, as well as chocolate.

That being said, the poor kept more or less the same diet all throughout the 17th century. Tea, however, became a common drink among all classes by the 18th century.

This period coincided with the discover of the Americas – an event which helped bring potatoes and tomatoes to the Maltese islands.

The British Empire (1800 – 1964):

During this period, many Maltese people were employed in the kitchens of British officers stationed in Malta. This led to many Maltese picking up on British customs and food.

Sponge cakes, fry-ups, roast meats, custards and puddings soon became common dishes in Maltese households.

World War II, and the subsequent introduction of the Victory Kitchen, also brought foods of the likes of corned beef and butter to the islands.

Independent Malta (1970s – 1980s):

New rules were implemented in Malta to avoid foreign importation. This meant that Maltese people had to settle for consuming local products only.

Independent Malta (1980s – 1990s):

These restrictions were finally lifted, and many foreign products started arriving in Malta. This also led to the introduction of fast food chain restaurants to the islands.

Feeling hungry?

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