Food in Uzbekistan: 21 Traditional Uzbek Dishes You Must Try Wandering Wheatleys

Suzma is a plain yogurt for dipping your bread. Sometimes you’ll find it has salt added or comes with onions, dill and/or parsley mixed in with it. Suzma is so ubiquitous in Uzbekistan that it often is not even listed on the menu. Simply ask for it along with your bread.

19. Tea
Much like other Arabic and Asian countries such as Turkey and Egypt, tea is more than just another beverage in Uzbekistan. Tea represents friendship and hospitality. You’ll likely be offered tea at your guesthouse upon your arrival. And perhaps you’ll be offered it every time you enter or leave your guesthouse.
You’ll rarely be able to order just a cup of tea. It will always come in a teapot along with a stack of small bowls. Uzbeks drink tea out of these bowls rather than teacups. You’ll generally be served one bowl more than the number of people expected to share the pot of tea. The extra bowl is used for mixing the tea when you first receive it.
There are a few steps to properly drink a pot of tea in Uzbekistan. First, you won’t want to drink the tea right away. You should give it a few minutes to let it finish steeping. Second, pour the tea into one of the bowls and then pour it back into the top of the teapot. Repeat this mixing step several times for good measure. Now discard that bowl, no one will actually be drinking out of it.
Finally, distribute the remaining tea bowls and pour everyone else’s tea. It’s customary not to pour your own tea in most countries unless you’re the host. Look around expectantly at everyone enjoying their tea and hope that someone takes the hint and pours you a bowl. If no one seems to take the hint, go ahead and pour your own. It’s okay as you’re the host in this situation.
20. Toasted Apricot Seeds
Dried apricots are incredibly popular in Uzbekistan. And of course all the apricots have to have the pits removed. Why not toast all those apricot pits and turn them  into a delicious treat?
Toasted apricot seeds are perfect to snack on while drinking a beer. And if you think beer would be uncommon in Uzbekistan due to its predominantly Muslim population you would be wrong. Alcohol is widely available in Uzbekistan and there are actually a number of locally produced wines and beers that you should try while you’re in the country, to go with your toasted apricot seeds of course.