Cram (Middle-earth)

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In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Middle-earth, cram was a biscuit-like food made by the Men of Esgaroth and Dale, which they shared with the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain. It was very nutritious, and was used for sustenance on long journeys, for example by Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves in The Hobbit. However, it was not flavorful, unlike its Elvish equivalent, lembas. According to Gimli when they left Lórien, lembas tastes better than cram. However, like lembas, it is probable that Tolkien modeled cram on hardtack.