Zodiac Sign Food Preferences: Foods and a Dish for Each Sign

Taurus is the zodiac sign said to love food the most, with Cancer second. The table below gives the foods linked to each of the twelve signs, and each sign’s section has one dish to cook, with quantities. Venus rules Taurus, and William Lilly’s Christian Astrology of 1647 gives Venus the tastes that are moist and sweet.

All of this is tradition and personal preference. If you have an allergy or a medical condition, or you are pregnant, the advice of your doctor or dietitian comes first. Leave honey out of anything for a child under one year. For children under five, chop nuts finely and cut grapes into quarters.

Foods for each zodiac sign

The dates shift by a day from year to year and by time zone. If your birthday falls on the first or last day of a sign, draw your birth chart to see which side of the line you are on. You need your birth time for this. Without it, a birthday on the changeover day cannot be settled.

Food lists by sun sign are modern, and so are the temperaments in the sections that follow. The plant lists behind them are older. Lilly listed plants for every planet, and Nicholas Culpeper gave most of the plants in the 1653 edition of his herbal a ruling planet. Giving each sign the plants of its ruling planet is this guide’s step, as in the birth chart guide. Where the two authors disagree, it follows Culpeper. Eating for your birth chart explains the method and goes on to the moon sign, the rising sign and the sixth house. It uses the same modern portraits for the moon sign.

Melon, pumpkin, oranges, cinnamon, apricots, almonds, leeks, ginger, black pepper, nutmeg, cloves, spinach, capers, lentils and pomegranate come from Lilly’s planet lists. Every other food is the ruling planet’s plant in Culpeper, apart from rosemary, which he gives to the sun and places under Aries.

Two signs with the same ruler share its plants. Aries can cook from the Scorpio row, Taurus from Libra, Gemini from Virgo, Sagittarius from Pisces and Capricorn from Aquarius, and the reverse. Rosemary, fennel and basil stay with the sign Culpeper names.

Aries (March 21 to April 19)

Aries wants dinner now and likes it cooked on high heat. Culpeper says of garlic that “Mars owns this herb”. Rosemary is the odd one in the row, a plant of the sun that he puts “under the celestial Ram”.

Seared radishes, for two as a side. Halve a bunch of radishes (about 10, or 8 oz / 225 g). Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wide pan over high heat and cook them cut side down for 4 minutes, until browned. Add 2 sliced cloves of garlic for one more minute, take the pan off the heat, and stir in 1 teaspoon of mustard and a pinch of salt.

Taurus (April 20 to May 20)

Taurus likes rich food and keeps a favorite restaurant for years. Venus rules it, and Lilly gives the sign the throat.

The fruit bowl in this row is Culpeper’s. In his herbal the pear tree and the apple tree belong to Venus, “All Plums are under Venus”, and wheat and mint are hers as well. Lilly’s own list for Venus has sweet apples and plums on it, so on those two the authors agree.

Plum crumble, for four. Halve and pit 1 lb (450 g) of plums and put them in a small baking dish (about 1 quart, or 1 liter) with 2 tablespoons of sugar. Rub 4 tablespoons (55 g) of cold butter into 3/4 cup (95 g) of flour, 1/4 cup (50 g) of sugar and a pinch of salt until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs, then scatter it over the fruit. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35 minutes, until the top is golden and juice bubbles at the edges.

Gemini (May 21 to June 20)

Order for a Gemini and you order several things. Lilly’s phrase for the taste of Mercury is a “hodge-podge of all things together”, and parsley and dill are two of Mercury’s herbs.

Parsley and bulgur salad, in the manner of tabbouleh, for two as one plate among several. Pour 1/3 cup (80 ml) of boiling water over 1/4 cup (35 g) of fine bulgur, cover it, and leave it for 15 minutes. Drain any water that is left. Chop enough parsley to fill 2 cups (120 g, from 1 large bunch or 2 small ones) and 2 tablespoons of dill. Stir the herbs into the bulgur with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bulgur is wheat, so the Mercury in the bowl is the herbs.

Cancer (June 21 to July 22)

Cancer would sooner feed a crowd at home than eat out. The moon rules the sign, and Lilly links Cancer to the breast and the stomach. He says the moon’s plants have thick, juicy leaves and a watery taste, which describes lettuce and cucumber well, and his list for the moon has pumpkin on it.

Pumpkin soup, four bowls. Soften 1 chopped onion in 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add 2 lb (900 g) of peeled, cubed pumpkin or winter squash and 4 cups (960 ml) of stock. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, until the pumpkin breaks under a spoon. Blend until smooth with a stick blender in the pot. If you use a countertop blender, let the soup cool for 5 minutes, fill the jar no more than half, and hold the lid down with a towel. Stir in 1/2 cup (120 ml) of milk and salt to taste. Leftovers keep for three days in the fridge.

Leo (July 23 to August 22)

Leo is generous and likes to host. Two of its foods sit under the sign itself in Culpeper. Saffron is “an herb of the Sun, and under the Lion”, and the bay is “a tree of the sun, and under the celestial sign Leo”. He calls the grapevine “a most gallant Tree of the Sun”.

Roast grapes with bay on ricotta toast, for two. Toss 2 cups (300 g) of seedless red grapes with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 bay leaves on a baking sheet. Roast at 425°F (220°C) for 15 minutes, until the skins split, then take out the bay leaves. Spread 2 slices of toast with ricotta (about 1/2 cup, or 120 g, in all) and spoon the grapes over.

Virgo (August 23 to September 22)

Virgo reads the label. Culpeper calls fennel “an herb of Mercury, and under Virgo”, the only food in the row that he ties to the sign. Celery and oregano are in his herbal under older names, smallage and wind (or wild) marjoram.

Fennel and celery salad, for two. Slice 1 fennel bulb and 2 celery stalks as thin as you can. Dress them with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh oregano (or 1/4 teaspoon dried). Leave the salad for 10 minutes before serving.

Libra (September 23 to October 22)

Libra is the sign that takes longest over the menu. Its row is mostly fruit. “Lady Venus owns this tree” is Culpeper’s line on the peach, and he gives her chickpeas too, the one savory food among the strawberries and cherries.

Chickpeas with apricots and almonds, for two. Warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan. Add a 15 oz (400 g) can of chickpeas, drained, with 6 chopped dried apricots and 1/2 cup (120 ml) of water. Simmer for 10 minutes, until the apricots are soft and most of the water has gone. Season with 1/4 teaspoon of salt, then top with 1 tablespoon of chopped mint and 2 tablespoons of sliced almonds.

Scorpio (October 23 to November 21)

Strong, dark flavors suit Scorpio. It shares Mars with Aries, and leeks, ginger and pepper are on Lilly’s list for the planet. Basil is the sign’s own herb. Culpeper calls it “an herb of Mars, and under the Scorpion”.

Leeks braised with ginger and black pepper, for two as a side. Trim 2 leeks to the white and pale green parts, split them lengthwise and rinse out the grit. Lay them cut side down in a pan with 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger and 1/2 cup (120 ml) of stock. Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes, until a knife slides through. Finish with 1/2 teaspoon of coarsely ground black pepper.

Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21)

Sagittarius orders the dish it has never tried. Sage is in its row on Culpeper’s word, “Jupiter claims this”, and asparagus is Jupiter’s in the same book. Nutmeg and cloves are on Lilly’s list for the planet. Lilly’s note on Jupiter’s savours is about smell, sweet or well-scented odors.

Roast asparagus with nutmeg butter, for two as a main vegetable or four as a side. Snap the woody ends off 1 lb (450 g) of asparagus, toss the spears with 1 tablespoon of oil, and roast at 425°F (220°C) for 10 minutes. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter with a pinch of grated nutmeg (about 1/8 teaspoon) and pour it over.

Capricorn (December 22 to January 19)

Saturn’s tastes in Lilly are sour, bitter and sharp, which sits oddly with Capricorn’s plain, traditional cooking. Saturn’s plants in Culpeper fit better, and barley and the red beet are two of them.

Whole roast beets, for four. Wrap 4 medium beets (about 1 1/2 lb, or 700 g), unpeeled, in foil and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 50 to 60 minutes, until a knife goes in easily. When they are cool enough to handle, rub off the skins and slice them. Dress with 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of oil and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. They keep for three days in the fridge.

Aquarius (January 20 to February 18)

Aquarius likes what nobody else is eating yet. Culpeper writes of the quince that “Old Saturn owns the Tree”, and Saturn rules Aquarius in the old books. Modern astrology adds Uranus. The rest of the row comes from Lilly’s list for Saturn, which has spinach, capers and pulse. Culpeper gives beans and chickpeas to Venus, so only lentils stay with Saturn here.

Poached quince, for two. Raw quince is hard, so it is always cooked. Peel, quarter and core 1 large quince (about 10 oz, or 300 g) and cut it into slices. Simmer the slices, covered, in 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) of water with 3 tablespoons of sugar for 40 to 50 minutes, until they are tender and turning pink. Serve them warm with yogurt and spoon some of the syrup over.

Pisces (February 19 to March 20)

Pisces eats by mood. Modern lists give it seafood, after its symbol. The row in the table belongs to Jupiter, and it runs from bitter greens to figs and pomegranate.

Baked figs with yogurt and pomegranate, for two. Halve 4 fresh figs and set them cut side up in a small baking dish. Drizzle them with 1 teaspoon of honey and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 12 minutes, until they slump and the juice runs. Eat them from a bowl with 1/2 cup (120 g) of yogurt and 2 tablespoons of pomegranate seeds.

Cooking for someone else’s sign

A sun sign is often the only thing you know about a friend’s chart, so the table is most useful when you are cooking for other people. Pick one food from their row and build a dish around it.

How a sign behaves at the stove is a separate subject, and zodiac sign cooking styles covers it. If you know the moon sign as well, use it for comfort food. The guide to moon sign meal planning builds a week around the moon’s element.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which zodiac sign loves food the most?

Taurus is modern astrology’s usual answer, and the sign most often called the zodiac’s biggest foodie. It is the sign of Venus, whose tastes Lilly describes as moist and sweet, and Lilly gives it the throat. Cancer is the other candidate, as the moon’s own sign and the one Lilly links to the stomach. Lilly, Culpeper and Ptolemy never rank the signs by appetite, so the ranking itself is modern.

What is each zodiac sign’s favorite food?

Going by the plants of each sign’s ruling planet: garlic for Aries, apples for Taurus, parsley for Gemini, cucumber for Cancer, oranges for Leo, fennel for Virgo, strawberries for Libra, basil for Scorpio, asparagus for Sagittarius, barley for Capricorn, spinach for Aquarius and figs for Pisces. The table has four to six foods for every sign.

Which zodiac signs like spicy food?

Aries and Scorpio, the two signs of Mars. Lilly gives Mars the tastes that burn the tongue, and his plant list for the planet includes pepper, ginger, mustard seed and garlic.

Which zodiac sign has a sweet tooth?

Taurus and Libra, through Venus and her sweet tastes. Sagittarius and Pisces come next, because Lilly’s list for Jupiter includes sugar, nutmeg and cloves.

Do zodiac signs really affect what people like to eat?

There is no scientific evidence that they do. The temperaments are modern convention, and the plant lists come from astrological books of the 1600s. They are most useful as a prompt for what to cook this week.

Sources

• William Lilly, Christian Astrology (London, 1647): chapters VIII to XIV for the tastes and plants of each planet, and chapter XVI for the element and body part of each sign. Scan at the Internet Archive.
• Nicholas Culpeper, The English Physitian Enlarged (London, 1653), reprinted since as The Complete Herbal: the “Government and virtues” paragraph of each plant named here. The first edition of 1652 leaves many of these plants without a planet. Quotations follow the Project Gutenberg text, ebook 49513. Read it for the planets and leave its remedies on the page.
• Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, translated by F. E. Robbins (Loeb Classical Library, 1940): book I, chapter 17 for the planets that rule each sign. Text at LacusCurtius.

Spelling in quotations from Lilly is modernized.

Hearthlight lists a planet for each ingredient in its correspondences. The app keeps its own set, so mint, almond and spinach differ from the table here. To go past the sun sign, look up your moon sign in the birth chart guide.

Last revised October 12, 2026.