every food in: The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne

The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne

Originally published 1928

This was a fun one to reread, even though it doesn’t technically have a lot of real, edible food in it. Characters are eating things, sure. But very little actual food.

If you grew up watching the Disney film, and not reading the original books, you might be surprised at the lack of carrots in scenes involving Rabbit, and also how different his character is - Rabbit is still a touch neurotic, but keeps honey and condensed milk on hand even in this book, for when characters come to tea. Very cute. 

Extract of Malt, Tigger’s “new favorite food,” is another joke that might go over the heads of modern readers, particularly if you’re into homebrewing or craft beer. Malt extract is a thick, sugary substance derived from malted (germinated and dried) cereal grains. Nowadays we use it mostly in flavoring baked goods, liquor, or candy, but it was very popular around the turn of the century as a health tonic. Pabst, among others, successfully marketed malt extract as a “medicinal” option for working class children who were nutritionally deficient, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers, and it was wildly popular, helping sustain their company through prohibition. At the time, extract of malt wasn’t completely alcohol free, and might’ve contained vitamins, but likely not a significant enough amount to be as “healthy” as it was advertised to be. It would’ve also been used heavily for convalescents and anyone with a weak immune system. 

Roo is stated to take extract of malt as medicine, and this is likely because he’s quite small. Considering most of the characters in the book are in some way avatars for Christopher Robin, it’s likely that Christopher Robin had taken it in the past for some sort of past illness and had a strong association of it as medicine, and a bit gross. So, Tigger making it into sandwiches is the equivalent of someone dumping Flintstones vitamins onto a piece of bread. Just a touch disgusting and totally child logic.

One last thing to note - this book has a song written about it! And apparently a lot of people have very distinct, fond memories of this song being associated with the book for them. I didn’t grow up listening to this personally, but I listened to it while writing this post. It seemed appropriate. Who knew Loggins & Messina were super into A.A. Milne? (I definitely didn’t.)

Chapter 2: Tigger Has Breakfast

A large pot of honey

A bowl of acorns (”haycorns”)

A tin of condensed milk for elevenses

Extract of malt for breakfast, dinner and tea

Chapter 4: Tiggers Don’t Climb Trees

A honeycomb

Nasturtiums (”masturshalums”)

A packet of watercress sandwiches and a packet of extract of malt sandwiches

Chapter 7: Tigger is Unbounced

Extract of malt/”Strengthening Medicine”

Twelve pots of honey