Short trip to Central Asia

Between Afghanistan and China lies Tajikistan - a high mountainous country, two thirds of whose surface area lies at an altitude of over 3,000 metres. The country is represented at Grüne Woche for the third time, and the range of products on offer is growing from year to year. The biggest role at the stand in Hall 18 is played by dried fruit, often in unusual mixtures. The ‘vitamin mix’, for example, contains yellow and black sultanas, apricot kernels, peanuts and almonds. Dried apricots are also available filled with walnut halves or covered in chocolate.

Small plastic jars of pistachios, almonds and honey are available to try for two euros. At the same stand, you can also try an ‘energy paste’ containing grated pistachios, sesame seeds, flax seeds, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and honey, which is said to be good for digestion. In addition to apricots, apricot kernels and all kinds of nuts, dried white mulberries are also among the main ingredients. They are available in their pure form or as a basis for fruit bars in various flavours from chocolate to cherry.

Typical Uzbek dishes from plov to chuchvara

Uzbekistan has set up a large stand in Hall 6.2, where typical Uzbek products can be seen all around, for example bags of dried carrots, pumpkin or cabbage, pickled green or red cherry tomatoes, juices, nuts or banana chips. However, only colourful traditional pottery, cotton scarves and cognac or vodka are sold.

Instead, there is freshly cooked food: From a huge pan, the cooks ladle out the Uzbek national dish plov - a rice pan with vegetables, chickpeas and sultanas - which is served with beef and pickled vegetables. For vegetarians, there is chuchvara - dumplings filled with spinach. For meat fans, there is also somsa with beef and onions or manti. And for everyone, honey cake and baklava with walnuts and sultanas for dessert or as a sweet snack between meals.