A Brief History of Pie

Pie History

Variations of pie have existed for centuries, although the year and origin are up for debate. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all had their own version of pie made with spices and flavors from their cultures. Egyptian “pies” were called galettes, with the crust consisting of ground oats, rye, wheat, or barley and contained honey on the inside. These pies were sweet in nature and evidence of them can be found on the tomb walls of the Pharaoh Ramesses II, who ruled from 1304-1237 BC.

The Greeks were the first to make pie crusts more recognizable as what you would use today, combining fat with a flour and water mixture to make a pastry type dough that could be filled with fruit. There is evidence of this as early as the 5th century BC in the plays of Aristophanes. 

Finally, the Romans traditionally filled their version of pie with savory meats and fowl. Their “crust” was developed to be a hard casing as a preservation technique for the meat filling and not intended to be eaten. 

Pie Stats

Most records show that meat filled-pies were the norm during their early years, with fruit-filled pies only gaining popularity in the 1500s in England. 

Ironically, the beloved All-American apple pie originated in England. According to a 2022 study by InstaCart, apple pie does, in fact, reign supreme in the United States as a whole. Other popular flavors include holiday favorites such as: cherry, pumpkin, pecan, and blueberry. Honorable mention goes to a few sweet favorites including chocolate pie and key lime pie. The following “pie chart” shows the top pie flavors by share of the 50 states.

Mehaffies Pies:

Hungry Yet? Here at Mehaffies, we are passionate about making fresh and delicious pies and New York-style cheesecakes. With more than 45 different flavors made daily, we are confident you’ll find a flavor you love and something new to try. 

Based in the Miami Valley since 1930, we pride ourselves in being a reliable, local vendor for pie fiends everywhere. 

Want to be the MVP of your next party or gathering? Show up with a pie from Mehaffies and we know it will leave your guests happy and wanting more. Order from our Dayton location or check out our list of restaurants and retailers where you can purchase our pies!