Sabrosa abstinencia. Abasto y consumo de pescado en el monasterio de Sobrado, siglos XVII-XVIII

Abstract

The cistercian accounts show that these churchmen enjoyed a varied and abundant supply of food, which differs greatly from the frugality stated in the Rule of Saint Benedict and which pointed out their high social status. The fact that fish, which was the main substitute for meat, was bought in certain seasons proves that it was eaten mainly at Lent. Secondarily it was a dish served at festivals and a gift item. The location of these church communities influenced the distribution between fresh and dried fish, the volume of supplies of sea and river fish and the classification of the species which were eaten. In all cases, the importance of dried cod was remarkable. The uniqueness of Sobrado monastery, regarding the supply of this fish, came from the taxes on lampreys and the fundamental role played by its priories as suppliers of the coast of Galicia. The calculations per capita place the cistercians at the top of the largest consumers of fish, as a result of their complaince with the ban on eating meat for a large number of days.