29 May 2024

Gastronomic code of the Crimean Tatar people

The history of the Crimean Tatar people is ancient, and their culture is distinctive. The traditions formed on the Crimean peninsula are the outcome of the intersection of different peoples, their religions and customs. As descendants of Turkic and Iranian-speaking tribes, Tauri, Crimean Goths, Byzantine Greeks and other nationalities, the Crimean Tatar people have given the world a unique cultural and artistic heritage that has a deep meaning and semantics that has long been based on spiritual values.

The Ukrainian state cares about the culture of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine, including the rich culture of the Crimean Tatars. The list of intangible cultural heritage of Ukraine includes

• ornament “ornek” and information about it
• traditional dance “Ahyr ava ve Kaitarma”
• practice and cultural context of cooking “chiberek” and “yantyk”
• the tradition of coffee

As we can see, when we turn to the knowledge of the nation, we cannot ignore the gastronomic reflection of its worldview, historical trials, and enrichment. Crimean Tatar food is full of both exquisite ceremonial and festive dishes and delicious daily meals.

The variation in the holiday treats is mostly due to the different areas of residence, but the common basis is a constant, unifying point of reference. For example, for weddings in all parts of the Crimean peninsula, porridge, roasted lamb meat, coffee, and sweets were prepared.

While the ceremonial food is partly an embodiment of written and folklore customs, the daily diet was determined by the natural and geographical conditions of living on the peninsula. Here, the tradition of fairs came to the rescue, where Crimean Tatars exchanged products rich in their region. Mutual assistance was and is the basis of developed interpersonal relations.

Today, in a difficult political environment, cuisine plays an important consolidating role, while at the same time giving you a sense of home wherever you are, thanks to the taste and peculiarities of food creation. Involving people in cooking opens the soul of the nation. 

So now we invite you to the kitchen of Crimean Tatar hosts, announcing a series of publications that will tell you about the intertwining of flavors and history of one of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine.