Author: Michael Smeltzer

Tarkhun is a carbonated soft drink invented in Georgia. Although it was later popularized throughout the USSR, its fame seems to have largely stopped at the borders of the Communist bloc. Derived from a syrup made from tarragon leaves, it has a distinctive taste reminiscent of licorice and sweet basil that most people either love […]

Lagman is a dish that is very common in Central Asia, China, and many Middle Eastern countries. It can also be found in Russia and the Caucasus and is a popular dish among the Crimean Tatars. The basic recipe, which combines noodles with meat, has hundreds of variations. In Uzbekistan, the dish tends be a […]

The process of pickling (соление) is well-known in Russia, and any traveler visiting Russia, Ukraine, or Belarus will undoubtedly come across several traditional pickled dishes that seem strange and exotic. With a relatively short growing season, preserving food has always been of special importance in Russia, where you can easily find pickled cucumbers, tomatoes, mushrooms, […]