When the Fellowship leaves the safe haven of Lothlorien, continuing their journey towards Mordor so that Frodo can throw the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom where it was made and destroy it, they are given a host of very special parting gifts by Galadriel, the elven queen. Most of these gifts are to help them survive: decorative daggers embossed with gold and silver leaves, rope that unties itself at the user’s command, and the phial of starlight that guides Frodo through the darkness. But one of the gifts, in particular, is a very rare Elven secret, scarcely given to outsiders, and it saves the company's life on many occasions: Lembas Bread.

In Peter Jackson’s 2001 film adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition), the nine members are seen being handed small square parcels wrapped in a dark green Mallorn leaf to keep them fresh, as they get into the boats that will carry them down the Anduin. Legolas pulls out a piece of the elven waybread, and utters the famous line "Just one small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man." Or, in Pippin's case, four whole slices, but then, hobbits are used to Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Elevenses, Luncheon, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, and Supper every single day. So what exactly is Lembas bread, and how can it be so filling?

RELATED: How Did Smeagol Become Gollum?

The Origins Of Lembas Bread

lotr lembas bread legolas Cropped

In order to understand the mystical powers of this unusual food, it is important to acknowledge its origins. The etymology of ‘Lem’ comes from the Sindarian (Elvish) word for ‘journey’- Lenn, which teaches us that this sacred bread was only to be used in times of great necessity when a long voyage was to take place, or an extended period of travel. Bass in Sindarian simply means 'bread,' although it is unclear from the description in the Lord of the Rings book exactly what consistency it has, as it is described as "Thin cakes, made of a meal that was baked a light brown on the outside, and the inside was the color of cream."

Be it cake or bread, it is recognized by one among the fellowship as being similar to a food of his childhood. Gimli, upon receiving the food, eyes it suspiciously, dreading that it may in fact be Cram, a kind of Dwarven bread originally made by the men of Dale, the city to the south of the Lonely Mountain, which can be seen in The Hobbit films by Peter Jackson. Cram, similarly to the purpose and function of the Lothlorien counterpart, was prepared for and eaten on long journeys. Though it has some similarities, the elves who speak the common tongue explain to the fellowship that lembas is both sweeter and more delightful to the taste, and also has a singular and potent property that makes Lembas ‘more strengthening than any food made by men’ and that no other food like it exists, which explains why the always hungry hobbits have never heard of it.

What Makes Lembas Bread Special (But Dangerous?)

lotr sam and frodo eat lembas bread Cropped

There is a hidden ingredient, passed down through generations: the corn that is used in the original baking of the bread. The corn derives from the last refuge of the elves, known as Grey Haven or The Undying Lands, and is believed to contain some of the immortality of the holy place, which is what gives lembas bread its power and its rejuvenating properties. Not only is it hard to recreate, taking such skill and expertise to grow and cultivate the original corn, which only exists in Middle Earth in the realm of Lothlorien, it is also forbidden to share the secrets of lembas bread with mortals. And for good reason.

Despite its incredible qualities, Lembas can be a dangerous food for any race who do not share the immortality of elves, for if too much is eaten, it turns the consumer away from real food. Mortals who become addicted to the revitalization the waybread brings, begin to reject any other sustenance if exposed to it for too long. They desire only to eat the bread, which soon makes them disillusioned with their mortality, leading to their inevitable death. It is only given to the nine in light of such an extreme circumstance, the destroying of the ring of power, and the knowledge that there will be dark times along the perilous journey when a desperate need to satiate one's hunger will outweigh the risks involved. As with all of the powerful relics and creations in Middle-earth, there is a cost for those who choose to abuse them.

Lord of the Rings fans could argue that Gollum actually aided, rather than hindered the progress of Frodo and Samwise in Return of the King by throwing the lembas bread off the steep pass of Cirith Ungol, where he then leads Frodo to meet his death at the hands of the Giant Spider demon Shelob. In the final scene before destroying the ring, Frodo tells Sam that he has ‘forgotten the taste of strawberries.’ If Gollum hadn’t rid them of the bread, who knows how much longer they could have survived the immortal lure of the lembas?

MORE: Why Can't Gandalf Touch The One Ring?