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Kitchen Witch: Food, Folklore & Fairy Tale
Welcome to a place of great magic – the kitchen! Magic, superstition, cooking, and food rituals have been intertwined since the beginning of humankind. Kitchen Food, Folklore & Fairy Tale is an exploration of the history and culture of food, folklore and magic and those skilled in healing and nourishing – herbalists, wise women, cooks, cunning folk and the name many of them would come to witch. Kitchen Witch is an invitation to see the magic in every corner of your kitchen. With the Kitchen Witch as our guide, we’ll explore food, nature, magic, and transformation. We’ll discover what the name of Kitchen Witch could mean to us in modern interpretations of ancient practices. May this book of stories and ideas show that there’s magic in the mundane, witchcraft within your walls and the Goddess really is in the details. Within this book you’ll find no recipes, but something cooked up just for you; you’ll find stories – stories of magic, healing, and hearth, of feasts and fasts and fairy tales. Of poisoned apples, bewitching gingerbread, and seeing the future in a teacup… Discover the fantastic folklore and healing properties of everyday fruits, vegetables, honey, bread and nuts. Delight in food customs and rituals from ancient Babylon, Egypt, Greece and Rome. Meet cunning folk, herbalists, ale-wives, beer goddesses and the many faces of the Kitchen Witch through the ages. Journey through food for every seasonal festival on the Wheel of the Year. Enjoy fairy and folk tales of witches and saints in Scandinavia, floating apples and snapdragon in England, potato-wolves in Germany, tatty bogles and angels who drink whisky in Scotland, and a rather surprising prevalence of pancakes… In Sarah’s signature style of weaving together the magical, this exciting new book will touch on a myriad of modalities in a journey lined with folklore, fairytale and much, much food!
276 pages, Paperback
Published March 16, 2022
202 people are currently reading
2169 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Robinson
8 books157 followersSarah is an author and yoga teacher based in Bath, UK (Once named after a goddess: the ancient Roman town of Aquae Sulis). Her background is in Science; she holds an MSc in Psychology and Neuroscience and has studied at Bath, Exeter and Harvard University. But her love of myth, magic and folklore shines through all of her writing!
Her books: Yoga for Witches, Yin Magic, Kitchen Witch, Enchanted Journeys, the Kitchen Witch Companion, and The Witch and the Wildwood are all published with Womancraft Publishing.
Read more at www.sentiayoga.com
Her books: Yoga for Witches, Yin Magic, Kitchen Witch, Enchanted Journeys, the Kitchen Witch Companion, and The Witch and the Wildwood are all published with Womancraft Publishing.
Read more at www.sentiayoga.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 31, 2022
Beautiful, cozy, full of wisdom and magic. Such a wonderful read. One to keep around for a very long time.
July 27, 2022
This was the third non-fiction book that was chosen by my Magical Book Club, the last being another of Sarah Robinson's books, "Yoga for Witches". I was very excited to read this after seeing it on the author's Instagram since I do get so much joy out of cooking, baking and eating.
The book was broken up into four sections, the first of which focused on the history of women in the kitchen going as far back as ancient Greece and Rome. She introduced different gods, goddesses and other spirits of the hearth and the rituals and traditions that were commonplace in areas around the world.
Section two discussed fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and some animal derived foods and section three focused on herbs and spices. While there were no recipes included, Robinson talked about some of the healing properties of these foods and instances where they appear in folklore. She even included a number of fairytales.
The final section introduced the Wheel of the Year which is based on pagan practices and ancient traditions which focuses on seasonal changes and growing cycles. The author provided the background for the different holidays and new ways to celebrate each.
The book did get a bit overwhelming at times since there was so much information included, especially the final section. That being said I know this is a book that I will come back and refer to throughout the year in order to get ideas about how to celebrate during the different seasons and also to get some inspiration while cooking.
The book felt pertinent to the issues of today. One of the major themes was that in the past women had a variety of different roles (e.g., healer, midwife, brewer etc.) that were based on their intuition and knowledge of plants, animals and the Earth. With the introduction of Judeo-Christian religions and modern science women's roles were either taken over if profitable or demonized if they posed a threat to the patriarchy.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel more grounded in this busy, high tech world that we live in. Also for anyone interested Sarah Robinson has a number of mediations available on Insight Timer including the Wheel of the Year holidays and many others!
The book was broken up into four sections, the first of which focused on the history of women in the kitchen going as far back as ancient Greece and Rome. She introduced different gods, goddesses and other spirits of the hearth and the rituals and traditions that were commonplace in areas around the world.
Section two discussed fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and some animal derived foods and section three focused on herbs and spices. While there were no recipes included, Robinson talked about some of the healing properties of these foods and instances where they appear in folklore. She even included a number of fairytales.
The final section introduced the Wheel of the Year which is based on pagan practices and ancient traditions which focuses on seasonal changes and growing cycles. The author provided the background for the different holidays and new ways to celebrate each.
The book did get a bit overwhelming at times since there was so much information included, especially the final section. That being said I know this is a book that I will come back and refer to throughout the year in order to get ideas about how to celebrate during the different seasons and also to get some inspiration while cooking.
The book felt pertinent to the issues of today. One of the major themes was that in the past women had a variety of different roles (e.g., healer, midwife, brewer etc.) that were based on their intuition and knowledge of plants, animals and the Earth. With the introduction of Judeo-Christian religions and modern science women's roles were either taken over if profitable or demonized if they posed a threat to the patriarchy.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel more grounded in this busy, high tech world that we live in. Also for anyone interested Sarah Robinson has a number of mediations available on Insight Timer including the Wheel of the Year holidays and many others!
February 15, 2025
I learned a lot from this book!! I loved all the folklore and thinking about food through stories and traditions. Also a great way to extend my learning about pagan rituals and the wheel of the year!!
May 23, 2022
great book!
Words cannot describe how much I love this book! I learned so much and love the author’s way with words. Truly a gem.
Words cannot describe how much I love this book! I learned so much and love the author’s way with words. Truly a gem.
June 4, 2022
I loved this book and will probably read it again. The history is so interesting. I bought a few of the cookbooks mentioned and can’t wait to learn more.
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September 30, 2022I don't quite remember why I picked this one up except that I am curious about more nature based knowledge and also the connection to fairy tales/folk tales in the book. I know I am looking for connections to my ancestors and their beliefs and ways of worship. I don't necessarily want to copy what they had, but grounding my own practices and rituals in something from my ancestors sounds appealing. Lots of good stuff about historical perception of witches and healers. Fun stories woven in. Plant knowledge for the absolute beginner (like how and where various plants show up in folk lore and usage, but not about how to use actual plants).
I think it was a good one to dip in and out of. Trying to read it straight through was surprisingly difficult because she doesn't really have a cohesive narrative so much as little tidbits brought together. It's not a bad format, it just (at least for me) requires a different type of reading than I am used to.
I think it was a good one to dip in and out of. Trying to read it straight through was surprisingly difficult because she doesn't really have a cohesive narrative so much as little tidbits brought together. It's not a bad format, it just (at least for me) requires a different type of reading than I am used to.
March 11, 2022
I just loved this book! Such a treasure trove of forgotten lore, kitchen magic, and women’s herstorical wisdom.
March 23, 2025
Such a fun and interesting book! I was pleasantly surprised to discover just how much of kitchen witchcraft is already a big part of my, and I dare say, most of our lives. Finding the meaning behind many of the foods and practices we do has been educational. I ordered the book to have on hand to further my intent in the things I already do as intent seems to be a key part of the day to day rituals.
November 22, 2022
Not a bad intro into kitchen witchery. As the book definitely proclaims: there are not recipes in this book. This is about history and practice. Most of the traditions included are Western, and there is a larger focus on UK-ish traditions/history.
March 14, 2024
I don't buy books, because they are expensive and cumbersome, and free to read at the library.
I will buy this book. It is charming and interesting, but also a practical resource. There is a lot of information on herbs that I would likely refer to again. Lovely book!
I will buy this book. It is charming and interesting, but also a practical resource. There is a lot of information on herbs that I would likely refer to again. Lovely book!
September 7, 2025
The book is very cozy and the illustrations are lovely, but it desperately needs some editing. There are way too many commas that should have been periods, the prose is redundant at times, and Hans Christian Andersen’s name is misspelled three times. Additionally, although the sources used are listed at the end of the book, they aren’t always clearly stated when you’re reading the text.
May 6, 2025
As someone who reads a lot about food history and fantasy, this is a solid introductory book that combines the two.
I was eager to finish it and initially thought I'd give it 4 stars or higher because some of the folklore and superstitions mentioned here were new to me.
(I now know why salt is thrown over your shoulder! Hahaha)
However, I had to remove some stars in the end because this book really needed editing.
There are too many redundant sentences and too much flowery prose that it distracted me from the main points (and such a shame that was because in its essence, this novel is a criticism of censorship by Christians)
It would've been more impactful if somebody told the author to embrace brevity.
I was eager to finish it and initially thought I'd give it 4 stars or higher because some of the folklore and superstitions mentioned here were new to me.
(I now know why salt is thrown over your shoulder! Hahaha)
However, I had to remove some stars in the end because this book really needed editing.
There are too many redundant sentences and too much flowery prose that it distracted me from the main points (and such a shame that was because in its essence, this novel is a criticism of censorship by Christians)
It would've been more impactful if somebody told the author to embrace brevity.
August 30, 2023
I recommend this book for anyone who is into folklore. I absolutely loved this book and will be referring back to it for a long time! It is chalk full of folklore and primers.
May 4, 2024
This was pretty good! For starters, there were no recipes, which I consider a bonus. Note: there IS a companion book if that’s what you’re after.
While I wish there would have been more depth (or at least more citations/end notes) for the historical references, I fully realize the author isn’t a historian nor was this an academic text. That said, it isn’t entirely for magical practitioners, either. It straddles a line of being a “popular” history/folklore book for a very specific reader—someone interested in the general history of kitchen witchery and food/herbal folklore in European contexts.
You won’t find:
• recipes
• spells
• correspondence charts (though you can pick out fragments of correspondences from the text every once in a while)
You will find:
• general witchcraft history
• general overview of food as it appears in folklore and fairytales
• a breakdown of the Wheel of the Year, its history, what each season represents, and little ways to celebrate it (with food, but again, no recipes).
• lots of feminism
It was a pleasant read, but it definitely requires a certain reader with a specific interest, otherwise I’m afraid the general history buff or practicing witch might both feel underwhelmed.
While I wish there would have been more depth (or at least more citations/end notes) for the historical references, I fully realize the author isn’t a historian nor was this an academic text. That said, it isn’t entirely for magical practitioners, either. It straddles a line of being a “popular” history/folklore book for a very specific reader—someone interested in the general history of kitchen witchery and food/herbal folklore in European contexts.
You won’t find:
• recipes
• spells
• correspondence charts (though you can pick out fragments of correspondences from the text every once in a while)
You will find:
• general witchcraft history
• general overview of food as it appears in folklore and fairytales
• a breakdown of the Wheel of the Year, its history, what each season represents, and little ways to celebrate it (with food, but again, no recipes).
• lots of feminism
It was a pleasant read, but it definitely requires a certain reader with a specific interest, otherwise I’m afraid the general history buff or practicing witch might both feel underwhelmed.
January 29, 2023
Witches survived because they are important.
—Sarah Robinson
What a fantastic read! This book is jammed full of interesting information. As a Witch, I found this book extremely factual and very different from other Kitchen Witch books. First, there are no recipes in the book, which I think was the appeal for me. Although you could take the information learned in the book and make recipes from that. Second, the author has really created a special read about history, folklore, facts and the magic that is in food. This is done in a very relatable way. Sarah talks about the witch, healers, wise women, midwives and those who learned from ancestors, how they weaved magic with food in the everyday. Lastly, she touches on the wheel of the year and the power of women to make and create that which we all need to survive. This is a book I will definitely come back to. Don’t hesitate, give it a read!
—Sarah Robinson
What a fantastic read! This book is jammed full of interesting information. As a Witch, I found this book extremely factual and very different from other Kitchen Witch books. First, there are no recipes in the book, which I think was the appeal for me. Although you could take the information learned in the book and make recipes from that. Second, the author has really created a special read about history, folklore, facts and the magic that is in food. This is done in a very relatable way. Sarah talks about the witch, healers, wise women, midwives and those who learned from ancestors, how they weaved magic with food in the everyday. Lastly, she touches on the wheel of the year and the power of women to make and create that which we all need to survive. This is a book I will definitely come back to. Don’t hesitate, give it a read!
September 14, 2023
I really enjoyed the lore and fairy tale that was included in this book, as well as the separation of the festivals at the end - though, I do think the festival section’s celebration ideas were few and uninspiring.
The fairy and folk tales were a wonderful mix of one’s I’d heard before and brand new ones I never knew existed.
I learned a lot about folk and fairy tales, and would happily buy a physical copy to annotate and make notes. I also would totally read the companion book that was recently published, supposedly containing more recipes.
Really, I was fine without the recipes. I rarely follow spells, rituals, in recipes in other witchy and folk based books anyway.
I did skim and skip through certain areas I wasn’t interested in, but with non-fiction books, you’re never obligated to read cover to cover. I will surely go back and reference when needed.
The fairy and folk tales were a wonderful mix of one’s I’d heard before and brand new ones I never knew existed.
I learned a lot about folk and fairy tales, and would happily buy a physical copy to annotate and make notes. I also would totally read the companion book that was recently published, supposedly containing more recipes.
Really, I was fine without the recipes. I rarely follow spells, rituals, in recipes in other witchy and folk based books anyway.
I did skim and skip through certain areas I wasn’t interested in, but with non-fiction books, you’re never obligated to read cover to cover. I will surely go back and reference when needed.
August 1, 2023
Magically researched!
Although not a practitioner, I loved the wonderful care that Robinson so obviously took when researching this book. It has everything that I came to learn when I chose the book. This tantalizing tome of entertaining lore surrounding magic and food really hit the spot. Reading this taught me large concepts like the powerful role of women in early society to small concepts like how to keep your house fairies happy. (Though I am sure that my fairies think that is really the only important thing!)
I really liked the short tales involving food and magic interspersed throughout. I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in religions, magic and food.
Although not a practitioner, I loved the wonderful care that Robinson so obviously took when researching this book. It has everything that I came to learn when I chose the book. This tantalizing tome of entertaining lore surrounding magic and food really hit the spot. Reading this taught me large concepts like the powerful role of women in early society to small concepts like how to keep your house fairies happy. (Though I am sure that my fairies think that is really the only important thing!)
I really liked the short tales involving food and magic interspersed throughout. I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in religions, magic and food.
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December 13, 2024Robinson's Kitchen Witch is deceptively long and nearly impossible for me to stick with for long stretches of time. It feels, at least to me, scattered and somewhat repetitive if taken in large doses. As promised it's a collection of bits and pieces strung together to explore the origins and varied interpretations of kitchen witches, their methods, and tools. Spoiler: It's probably not what you think. This book will mean wildly different things to each reader depending on their beliefs and interests. For me, it's a great survey of history, storytelling, and food as a means of interaction with the natural and social environment. I enjoyed the sum much more than the pieces but, that's more than enough for a good time in my mind.
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January 7, 2025Things you need to know:
✨DNF - 16% read
✨Genre: Spirituality
✨Pages: 276
✨Grip: Scarcely
✨Spice: None
2 cents:
Haven’t read enough to write a review. Putting it down with the intention of picking it up again later. 🤞🏼
Summary (Spoiler-Free):
"Kitchen Witch” by Sarah Robinson is a heartfelt exploration of the magical and spiritual connection between food, folklore, and everyday life. The book weaves together personal reflections, traditional stories, and simple recipes to guide readers in creating rituals of mindfulness and intention in the kitchen. It emphasizes the power of cooking as a sacred act, encouraging readers to find joy, meaning, and connection in the process of nourishing themselves and others.
✨DNF - 16% read
✨Genre: Spirituality
✨Pages: 276
✨Grip: Scarcely
✨Spice: None
2 cents:
Haven’t read enough to write a review. Putting it down with the intention of picking it up again later. 🤞🏼
Summary (Spoiler-Free):
"Kitchen Witch” by Sarah Robinson is a heartfelt exploration of the magical and spiritual connection between food, folklore, and everyday life. The book weaves together personal reflections, traditional stories, and simple recipes to guide readers in creating rituals of mindfulness and intention in the kitchen. It emphasizes the power of cooking as a sacred act, encouraging readers to find joy, meaning, and connection in the process of nourishing themselves and others.
May 24, 2025
A wonderful book. This is largely historical and literary review of Food and Folklore related to witches past and present. There aren't really any recipes, but definitely some great information about different uses for herbs and season foods. Definitely some great lore and learned a bit more about historically seasonal foods. This book also goes over the strong agrarian connection to past witches. Anyone interested in growing a garden, learning to take joy in the comfort of food and/or wanting to expanding their culinary knowledge, I recommend this book.
Listened to in audio, I may eventually get a physical copy for my personal library.
Listened to in audio, I may eventually get a physical copy for my personal library.
June 18, 2024
DNF. I wanted to love this so badly and was super excited to buy it on Kindle. The writing is so poorly executed and I'm not sure what kind of editing process it went through but it was very sloppily done. I'm so disappointed and tried to push my way through, but it felt like I was reading a very long research paper written by a high schooler. I wish the other reviews had warned me of this beforehand.
August 25, 2022
A fascinating read. I found myself jumping around the chapters because I couldn't wait to read about coffee or herbs. There are no recipes here, but the book does provide loads of magical lore, especially for anyone who loves to cook or bake or even just knows there's something deeply special about sharing food and drink. A lovely book that I know I'll enjoy picking up time and again
July 1, 2023
I absolutely loved this book!
It's full of tales, stories, historical reference… Everything in it is so interesting and well explained. It contains so many things to learn.
It felt so cosy reading this, and this author does such a great job explaining everything.
I'll for sure keep coming back to this book whenever I need, and I can only recommend it to others!
It's full of tales, stories, historical reference… Everything in it is so interesting and well explained. It contains so many things to learn.
It felt so cosy reading this, and this author does such a great job explaining everything.
I'll for sure keep coming back to this book whenever I need, and I can only recommend it to others!
October 9, 2025
3.5 A book club read. This is a fun reference type book chronicling food and beverages via fables, fairy tales, and folklore. Interesting if you like food and beverages. A bit creepy while remembering the scariness of fairy tales we read as children. The apple was sure popular in those tales!
October 30, 2023
Always enjoy reading about ancient gods/goddesses from around the world, especially when they mention Vesta and Hestia. Love all the historical education around the importance of the hearth and how it relates to today.
July 24, 2025
This was an awesome collection of food lore and fairytales! It will make me look at my food differently, and has inspired me to add more ritual to the cooking process!
Highly recommend, the author passed on a lot of information in a really accessible way!
Highly recommend, the author passed on a lot of information in a really accessible way!
August 30, 2025
This narrative did offer interesting, if a tad basic, information. I did appreciate the inclusion of folklore and how it was interspersed. However, the delivery of that information was quite stilted and redundant.
September 21, 2025
This book was easy reading, informative and would make a nice addition to your folklore book shelf.
There is something here for both beginners and experienced readers of witches, folklore and international fairy tales, though it is heavy in Celtic examples.
There is something here for both beginners and experienced readers of witches, folklore and international fairy tales, though it is heavy in Celtic examples.
April 8, 2023
Heerlijk boek! Wetenschap, literatuur, keukenalchemie: I love Sarah and her books!
August 25, 2023
The BEST witches book I’ve ever read, hands down ever. So enjoyable and so much good information.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews