Cheesecake, Olive oil, Buttermilk, Kombucha

Some foods are so central to our modern diets that it can be difficult to imagine them being enjoyed by our ancient ancestors. Aztecs munching on popcorn? Ancient Romans enjoying a hamburger? Although these may seem like situations that could only be made possible by a culinary time traveler, these were real and in fact quite common scenes from history. Indeed, lots of our favorite foods have ancient origins.

Curious? Read on to see if your favorite snack was enjoyed by our ancestors.

Noodles

Noodles of all shapes and sizes have been a staple of the human diet around the world for thousands of years. The oldest noodles found in the world were discovered in China, and date back to around 4,000 years ago.

Pot pie

Pot pies might evoke images of the cold and cozy hearthstones of North America, but, as a matter of fact, these delicious saucy meat pies originated in Mesopotamia around 3,700 years ago.

Cheesecake

Cheesecake remains one of the most popular desserts around the world, even 2,000 years after its original inception in ancient Greece. Cheesecake was the energizing meal of choice for the original Olympic athletes.

Curry

Curry, as we know it today, is usually defined by three main ingredients: ginger, garlic, and turmeric. The first known instance of this particular mix of spices in a sauce dates back to around 4,500 years ago.

Popcorn

Corn, or maize, was the primary crop for most of ancient Mesoamerica, and there wasn't much they didn't use corn for. Popcorn, everyone's favorite movie theater snack, was no exception. Popped corn kernels have been found in Mexico that are around 4,000 years old.

Olive oil

The oldest olive oil found to date was uncovered in the ancient city of Galilee, and is around 8,000 years old.

Pilaf

Pilaf in all its delectable forms is enjoyed around the world, but it has its origins in ancient Persia. This vibrant and flavorful rice dish has been around since 1000 BCE, and was even enjoyed by Alexander the Great of Macedonia on his conquests.

Burgers

Arguably the most popular food item in the world, hamburgers trace their roots back to ancient Rome, in the 4th century CE. Back then, the dish was known as isicia omentata, and skipped the bread buns.

Stew

Hearty stews are one of the oldest dishes in human history. For just about as long as humans have hunted game, they have boiled meats in water with the addition of all sorts of vegetables and herbs gathered from their surroundings. The oldest definitive evidence of stew dates back nearly 8,000 years.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk was originally, of course, a byproduct of butter, and has been collected and used in baking for as long as butter has been produced, making it at least 5,000 years old.

Chutney

Chutney originated in eastern India nearly 2,000 years ago, as a fresh mixture of tomatoes, onions, and nuts that would be served with a variety of dishes. It was subsequently adopted by the Romans and then Britain, where it remains popular in its preserved form to this day.

Tofu

The first recorded production of tofu, which is made out of soybean curd, comes from ancient China, nearly 2,000 years ago. According to legend, tofu was invented by Prince Liu An, who lived in the 2nd century BCE.

Kombucha

Kombucha has become one of the most popular health food crazes of the 21st century, but its history stretches far back into the ancient past. The most reliable sources place the invention of kombucha at around 220 BCE in Northeast China.

Hummus

Hummus is a widely enjoyed across the Middle East and North Africa, and has been for many centuries. The first written reference to hummus appeared in a 13th-century Egyptian cookbook.