Balkan gastronomy is perhaps even more famous than its wool products. Bulgarian and Greek cuisines are considered very tasty and also some of the healthiest on the planet.
It is probable that they significantly contribute towards the long lives enjoyed by the countries’ inhabitants. Both cuisines stand out through their abundant use of vegetables ripened under the Mediterranean sun, giving them an incomparably better taste than greenhouse-grown examples. For example, the pink tomato varieties that are of Bulgarian origin and can reach twenty centimetres in diameter, are characterized by a beautiful scent and a unique sweet taste. They are used both fresh and also as ingredients in boiled and baked foods. Other typical ingredients are peppers, which are mostly roasted, aubergines, zucchini and the lesser-known (in this country) okra (ladies’ fingers). Legumes are extensively used in Balkan cuisine, as is white yoghurt, which is actually a Bulgarian invention. Meat does not play such a dominant role as in Central European cuisine, but if it is prepared it is most commonly roasted in an oven, while minced meat (kebapche, kufteta etc.) is usually grilled over an open flame. Lamb is without doubt the most popular type of meat, and as such is an essential part of holiday feasts. Balkan cuisine is heavily influenced by the heritage of the long-lasting Ottoman rulers, and hence it is possible to speak of the Bulgarian/Greek/Turkish environment as also being very compact from the perspective of gastronomy. Famous dishes like musaka, sarmi (vine leaves) and tarator are very popular in all these countries. The same applies for desserts. People in the Balkans are fond of very sweet desserts with baklava and stuffed figs being shining examples of this tradition.
We bring you some delicacies of Bulgarian origin, which are an essential part of the local daily cuisine. The Harmonica brand, which we are launching on the Czech market, represents small food manufacturers in Bulgaria who all work to produce tasty, quality and healthy foods made in natural and environmentally-friendly ways. They have all passed a demanding certification process and are classified as organic in Europe.
