Pancakes have been a breakfast staple for several cultures over the years. In Rwanda, you’ll find them as part of very many buffets around town, and can salty or sweet.

According to The Breakfast Shoppe, the history of the pancake traces back hundreds of years. That delicious breakfast you enjoy now was also enjoyed by people in medieval times. There are countless variations on the pancake that range from crepes, to Dutch, and flapjacks. Many of these depend on the region the pancake is being made, the history of that culture, and the ingredients available to them.

The first official pancake recipe dates back to the 16th Century. The recipe was by a Dutch cook. It was accompanied with numerous illustrations and instructions. Throughout the Medieval Age, pancakes evolved into the closest resemblance of pancakes today. People started making them with cornmeal, flour, or even potatoes depending on what they had available to them. Many would also have an added fruit or other sweet ingredient for flavor.

The pancakes of history were cooked using a baking stone. This is where the stone used to cook them is heated by a fire or stove and the batter is then cooked on the hot stone.

Throughout the world, different cultures have their own version of the pancake. In France, it’s known as a crepe. In Scotland, they make a version that is very similar to the flapjack. Australians will often eat them for dessert instead of breakfast. Germans will cut them into strips and eat them alongside soup. The Swedish are known for frying or baking their pancakes and topping them with fruit and whipped crème.

In ancient Rome and Greece, pancakes were made of wheat flour, curdled milk, honey, and olive oil. Even the ancient Greek poets, such as Magnes and Cratinus, mentioned pancakes within their works. Shakespeare himself mentioned pancakes in some of his plays. The pancakes during the English Renaissance were flavoured creations; using sherry, spices, apples, and rosewater for a unique taste. That is according to Pancakes with Waffles.

With pancakes being so widespread today, they’ve become a firm fixture in pop culture as well. We can see them featured in several movies and TV shows, sometimes even being central to the main plot.