Twenty-five fresh and processed food stuffs that could once have been contained by Eastern Desert Ware vessels, were purchased. Among these were wheat, fava beans, eggs and veal but also coffee, doam nuts, goat's milk and fruits of Balanites aegyptiaca. About 200 g. of each was put in its own new, unglazed ceramic container (tagen), covered with mineral water and allowed to sit for 24 hours.

A number identifying the contents had been engraved on the outside of each tagen and all were wrapped in aluminum foil to prevent leakage and contamination. The next day, the vessels and their contents were put in an oven and brought to a boil for about one hour. After they had cooled down, water was added where it had been absorbed or evaporated and all vessels were cooked for another hour.