Food in Kyrgyzstan is characterized by relatively low prices (this does not apply to elite restaurants in the capital). In addition, local catering establishments offer their visitors to order delicious, fresh and natural food.
Food in Kyrgyzstan
The Kyrgyz cuisine was strongly influenced by the gastronomic traditions of Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan, as well as the Uyghur peoples. The Kyrgyz diet consists of vegetables, fruits, meat (horse meat, lamb, beef, poultry), rice, fish, soups, dairy products.
Locals start and end any meal with tea: before serving the main course, they put dried fruits, pastries, nuts and sweets on the table.
In Kyrgyzstan, you should try horse meat sausages; pilaf; manti; lagman; beshbarmak; kurut (sour and salty balls from dried ayran); dried and smoked fish.
Where to eat in Kyrgyzstan? At your service:
- cafes and restaurants with Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Turkish, Iranian, Russian cuisines;
- establishments with Euro-American fast food.
-
In Kyrgyzstan, you can not only visit a real Asian market, but also buy freshly baked flat cakes, bulk spices, salads there.
Drinks in Kyrgyzstan
Popular drinks of the Kyrgyz are tan, kumys, ayran, green and black tea, bozo (a national drink with a tart and rich taste, like Russian kvass, made from wort on crushed wheat grains), dzarma (a barley drink that tastes like beer), arak (Kyrgyz vodka).
Gastronomic tour to Kyrgyzstan
If desired, a gastronomic tour to Kyrgyzstan can be combined with hiking and sightseeing. As part of such a tour, an excursion to the northern coast of Issyk-Kul will be organized for you - in the city of Tokmak you will be taught how to cook the national dish “shorpo”. And going to the eastern coast of the lake towards the city of Karakol, you will learn how to cook kuurdak - a national dish based on fried meat, potatoes and onions.
During the trip to the Zhetu-Oguz gorge, you will be taken to one of the local yurts: hospitable nomads will treat you to a local treat - kumis. Continuing your journey along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, you will be taken to the village of Bokonbaevo: here you will be able to taste dymlama - a dish based on meat and vegetables (lamb, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, onions, peppers, tomatoes, garlic).
During a gastronomic tour in Kyrgyzstan, you will also visit the village of Kochkor: here you will learn how to cook meatloaf (oromo), and you can not only go to a souvenir shop and buy handicrafts, but also visit an exhibition of felt carpets.
Holidays in Kyrgyzstan will delight you with magnificent nature, ancient Asian cities, opportunities for active pastime (trekking, mountaineering) and treatment (the country is famous for mineral springs and curative mud), as well as colorful national dishes.
