It’s right up there with the greatest philosophical debates of our time such as Schrodinger’s Cat and Descartes’ Cogito, Ergo Sum: is soup a food or a drink?
The answer to this seemingly simple question is not as straightforward as it seems. In fact, it continues to spark controversy among food enthusiasts throughout the culinary world.
So, do you chew chunky chicken soup in the same way you would a solid meal? Or do you delicately sip a light gazpacho as though it’s your favourite cocktail drink?
It’s time to delve into the wonderful world of soup, and examine its characteristics, cultural context, and the arguments for both sides of the great soup debate.
What is soup? A definition
Before we go any further, let’s set some guidelines for what defines soup.
Most of us will agree that soup is a dish typically made by combining your favourite ingredients such as vegetables, meat, grains, or legumes in a liquid base like a broth or stock. The ingredients are then cooked so the flavours amalgamate, producing a delicious, soupy creation sensation that will leave you drooling.
From hearty stews to delicate consommés, soups provide almost endless options when it comes to culinary creativity.
This draws us back to the original question: Is soup a food or a drink?
Is Soup a Food or a Drink? The Case for Soup as a Food
In the ‘70s and ‘80s, Campbell’s launched an advertising campaign telling us “Soup is Good Food.” This statement will settle the argument for some, but others remain unconvinced, or at least confused. Nevertheless, many of us will argue soup is, well, a soup-a food because:
1. Nutrient composition
Soups are often crammed with chunky ingredients like vegetables, grains, and meats, solidifying their status as food that’s packed with nutritional goodness. This delicious combination provides just as much sustenance as a complete meal. In fact, turning soup into a main course couldn’t be simpler either.
2. Preparation
When you make soup, you generally chop, cook, simmer, and combine a range of ingredients to develop a complex and mouth-watering flavour. This process is more aligned with food preparation techniques than with making a simple drink, unless that drink happens to be a luxurious Commonwealth cocktail with its 71 different ingredients!
3. History
You’ve probably never heard of hippopotamus soup. However, archaeological evidence has dated soup back as far as 6,000 BC – and the flavour was hippo! Thankfully, the culinary world has moved on, but there is little doubt soup has been a part of mealtime for thousands of years. Just ask yourself: can you envisage Henry VIII supping soup from a crystal glass? Nor can we.
Is Soup a Food or Drink? The Case for Soup as a Drink
Broadly speaking, a ‘drink’ refers to any liquid that is consumed. Therefore, if soup is in liquid form and someone choses to drink it directly from a mug of glass, it can be considered a drink. Soup could be considered a drink because:
1. Liquid consistency
Soup is a liquid so it must be a drink, right? Well, perhaps. There’s certainly no denying its liquid consistency. Unlike solid foods, soup can be sipped from a spoon, consumed directly from the bowl in certain cultures, or slurped from a mug in true cup-a-soup style. Therefore, the presence of significant amounts of liquid that characterises many traditional soups can be reminiscent of drinks and beverages.
2. Hydration and refreshment
Soup often has a high-water content, making them hydrating and refreshing in a similar way a drink would. Therefore, it could be argued that soups with a watery consistency like a consommé, noodle soup, or cold cucumber soup serve a similar purpose to beverages by providing nourishment while also quenching thirst.
3. Cultural perceptions
In certain cultures, soups are considered drinks, and they aren’t served with a spoon either, strengthening the argument that soup is a drink. For example, in some Asian cuisines, guzzling soup directly from the bowl is customary which blurs the line between food and drink once again.
Is Soup a Food or a Drink? What You Said…
Far be it from us to lecture anyone about soup being a food. Or even a drink. Oh dear, we’re going round in circles here.
Perhaps we can all agree that placing soup into either category is nigh on impossible and depends on many cultural and contextual factors. Where soup is perceived as a drink in one culture, it could be considered a food item in another.
And, to add even more confusion, the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary describes soup as a ‘liquid food’. Well, thanks for that!
We know what you’re thinking – make up your mind! This is where Campbell’s Soup detectives decided to ask the public whether they drink or eat soup. Here’s what you said:
| ‘Like it if I’m cold, in a mug. Also use it as a sauce for chicken and mushroom pie.’ – Heather
‘Eat soup.’ – Lorna ‘Sup soup from a spoon.’ – Margaret ‘Both, depends on how lumpy it is. Eg, drink a cup/mug of tomato soup, eat a bowl of my homemade minestrone.’ – Clive ‘If it’s creamy I drink it, but otherwise I use a spoon.’ – Joan |
‘Slurp it.’ – Melanie
‘If I have it in a mug I say drink. If I have it in a dish with a spoon I say I eat it.’ – Millie ‘I use chicken soup to make a curry.’ – Lynne ‘Both.’ – Elaine ‘Eat.’ – Anne ‘Eat with bread.’ – Colin
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Is Soup a Food or a Drink? A Conclusion:
Soup is a food, but can also be a beverage – there, we said it. Essentially, your opinion depends on the ingredients and whether it is eaten from a bowl with a spoon as food or sipped from a mug or glass as a drink. Well, that’s our take on things anyway.
Of course, there’s also the possibility that soup is probably both. If you chew on a chunky soup, you’re eating it. If you swallow it without chewing, you’re drinking it.
Let’s be honest, there’s no conclusive argument for soup being food or a drink. It will forever remain one of life’s mysteries. In the meantime, soup continues to captivate our taste buds, so we hope you enjoy your favourite soup any way you like.
Do You Drink or Eat Soup?
At Campbell’s we’d love to know more about your soup preferences, and particularly our range of condensed soups. Whether you sip it, eat it, or use it in a recipe, take a photo and tag us using the buttons below.