Culinary Traditions In Lithuania

Video: Culinary Traditions In Lithuania

Video: Culinary Traditions In Lithuania
Video: 10 Traditional Lithuanian Dishes You Need To Tray - Traditional Lithuania Food by Traditional Dishes 2024, December
Culinary Traditions In Lithuania
Culinary Traditions In Lithuania
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Lithuania is the southernmost and largest of the three Baltic States. It is located on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. The country borders Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, and Poland and Russia to the southwest. Lithuanian belongs to the group of Indo-European languages and is spoken by about 4,000 people in Lithuania.

The Soviet occupation of the country greatly affected Lithuanian cuisine. After the country regained its independence in 1990, traditional cuisine became one of the ways Lithuanians celebrated their identity.

Lithuanian cuisine features products that are suitable for its cool and humid climate, such as barley, potatoes, rye, beets, vegetables and mushrooms. Lithuanians consider dairy products to be their specialty. As Lithuania shares its climate and similar agricultural practices with Eastern Europe, Lithuanian cuisine has much in common with Eastern European cuisine.

But this in no way prevents it from having its own distinctive features, which have been influenced during the long and very difficult history of the country. Due to their long shared history, Lithuanians and Poles have many dishes and drinks that are similar. The same dumplings, pancakes and donuts are made in Poland and Lithuania.

Germany also influences Lithuanian cuisine. From the German national cuisine, people living in Lithuania borrow dishes with pork and potatoes such as potato pudding and potato sausages called vedarai, as well as the baroque wood cake, also called sakotis.

Lithuanian cuisine is also influenced by Eastern Orthodox. From there come exotic dishes such as kibinai and ceburekai. The popular Napoleon soup in Latvia was created when Napoleon himself passed through the country in the 19th century.

In Latvia, people like to eat cepilinai / potato dumplings /, which can be full of meat, cottage cheese or mushrooms / see our delicious gallery /. This is their most famous national dish. These delicious dumplings are loved and popular among Lithuanians around the world.

Other national foods in the country include dark rye bread, cold beetroot soup, baked potato pudding, smoked sausage and vedarai - these are pork intestines filled with boiled potatoes and sausage.

In the variety of Lithuanian cuisine you can also find zrazai - a mix of fried beef with salted pork, crushed garlic and cumin, as well as Lithuanian goulash, which is very different from the Hungarian.

Many of the foods we have listed can also be found in Lithuania's neighboring countries. The cuisine of the country is not as famous as the French, for example, so if you want to try its delicacies, you should visit it. Most Lithuanian restaurants that are outside the country are usually located in places where there is a strong Lithuanian presence.

Popular drinks in Lithuania are beer, vodka and yeast. Starka / vodka / is considered part of the country's heritage because it continues to be produced on its territory. Beer has become a symbol of Lithuania since ancient times. There are about 80 large and small breweries on its territory. Some of the lighter versions of beer are recognized as the best in the world.

If you want to try truly unique snacks served with beer, you should visit the country, because Lithuania is the only place where you can do it. Examples are garlic with bread, peas with ribs, smoked cheese, smoked pork ears and plums filled with various fillings.

Traditional and original dishes have been preserved in every region of Lithuania. People living in Aukstaitija are considered experts in flour and freshwater fish dishes and their culinary masterpieces are part of the European culinary heritage.

The people living in Zematija are excellent in preparing potatoes, vegetables and dairy dishes. You can try the most delicious smoked fish in Minor Lithuania on both shores of the Crown Lagoon.

People in Lithuania eat three times a day. Breakfast is between 7 and 9 o'clock, lunch, as in Latvia, is between 12 and 15 o'clock, and dinner - between 18 and 20 o'clock. In rural areas, people sit at the table earlier than in urban areas. For lunch, most people either go home or have lunch at nearby snack bars during their lunch break.

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