Bread is incredibly important in Uzbekistan. You’ll encounter people selling homemade bread in every market and on many street corners. And Uzbek bread is almost always made in a ring with the center not quite punched out, kind of like an oversized bagel.
Anytime you eat at a restaurant in Uzbekistan and fail to order bread the waiter will look at you like you have grown an extra head. And often they will bring you bread anyways, assuming your order (or lack thereof) was lost in translation.
One of the most interesting parts of the bread culture in Uzbekistan is the number of unique patterns that are stamped onto the bread before it is baked. You’ll actually see a variety of bread stamps available in the markets; they have intricate designs of metal pins inlaid in wooden handles. Pick one up if you’re feeling ambitious and want to start stamping your own bread when you return home from your Uzbekistan holiday.
One of the most interesting parts of the bread culture in Uzbekistan is the number of unique patterns that are stamped onto the bread before it is baked. You’ll actually see a variety of bread stamps available in the markets; they have intricate designs of metal pins inlaid in wooden handles. Pick one up if you’re feeling ambitious and want to start stamping your own bread when you return home from your Uzbekistan holiday.
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.
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.