Since alcohol was always on the menu, it's not hard to see why beer would have been a better day-to-day option for many Caribbean pirates than, say, rum. Because unlike fresh water (which eventually became an algae-infested ooze), alcohol never spoiled on ships, which helped make beer a favorite beverage of Caribbean pirates (via Smithsonian). In fact, contrary to popular belief, the desire for debauchery was only part of the reason pirates consumed so much alcohol. ![]() After all, as Laura Sook Duncombe (author of "Pirate Women") told the Tampa Bay Times in 2017, pirates would often simply slam the biscuits to get rid of the bugs and then eat any remaining bugs since they were a great source of protein. Actually, a bug infestation may not have fazed a Caribbean pirate as much as we'd imagine. ![]() More often than not, the fairly filthy living conditions on a Caribbean pirate ship meant hardtack would end up overrun with weevil bugs over time (via National Geographic). Of course, while its dried-out composition made it better suited to the sea than other breads, hardtack biscuits weren't impervious to the elements. But life surrounded by water meant fresh bread was too easily susceptible to mold, so pirates, like many sailors of the day, had to settle for dry, hardtack biscuits instead (via Smithsonian).Īccording to the Texas Historical Commission, hardtack biscuits, though generally flavorless and often hard as a rock, were the preferred pantry bread for pirates because the cracker-like texture helped extend their shelf-life. ![]() Realistically, then, the fact that Caribbean pirates ate bread consistently is less surprising than if they hadn't.
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