Culture
Culture in Bulgaria, find out about the cultural background in Bulgaria.
Feast on Bulgarian Cuisine
After you’ve fed your music-loving soul with the multitude of musical festivals in Bulgaria, it’s time to feast on the local delicacies! The cuisine of Bulgaria is fascinating in itself, with some traces of Greek and Turkish influences. Make sure that you try the refreshing tarator, which is a cold cucumber yogurt soup;
if hot soups are more to your liking, feast on the chorba – a warm minty bean soup. Grilled meat dishes are abundant, so meat-lovers are sure to have the time of their lives in Bulgaria; must-try meat products include pastarma (spicy beef salami), pushen but (smoked leg of ham) and sudzhuk (a flat sausage that’s home-cured).
The Bulgarian cuisine feast will not be complete without drinks– and the country has an abundance of both choices for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic ones. The country is home to over 600 mineral water springs, so you shouldn’t have any problems with getting your fix of the cleanest, most crisp mineral water. Two popular non-alcoholic beverages (both of Turkish origins) are worth trying – the boza (millet ale) and ayrian (water, salt and yogurt).
These alcoholic drinks pack a significant punch, and are certainly worth trying (maybe even more than once?):
Rakia – Considered as the Bulgarian national alcoholic drink, it is a clear brandy made from apricots, grapes or plums. Served neat usually at the beginning of meals, rakia gives a powerful alcoholic kick, as it has 40% alcohol by volume; those that are homemade can even be stronger, with more than 50% alcohol by volume.
Mastika – Usually enjoyed with ice and water, this drink is somewhat similar to the Turkish Raki and the Greek Ouzo; it’s also a strong drink, with about 47% alcohol by volume – drink in moderation!
Beer – You can see beer being served almost anywhere in the country. Some of the fantastic local varieties include Ariana, Pirinsko, Shumensko, Kamenitza and Zagorka.
Wine – Wine-making has been done for centuries in Bulgaria, and is still a thriving industry nowadays. If you’re in a wine-drinking mood, do try out these local wine varieties: Dimyat, Pelin, Muskat, Melnik, Misket, Pamid, Mavrud, Kadarka (red sweet), Kerutsada (white dry) and Gamza (red dry).
Exploring the culture and entertainment options in Bulgaria is an adventure worth undertaking by everyone – from the most seasoned to the newest of travelers. When in you’re in Bulgaria, every place you go to is a minefield of information just waiting to be tapped by adventurous souls, so you should grab every chance you can get to soak up the details with your senses – and hopefully store them in a place where memories are beautifully preserved for a very long time.