The Yummiest Delicacies To Try in Russia

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Matryoshkas, painted china and Soviet memorabilia are all lovely but who, apart from Aunt Mabel, has the cupboards or inclination to display them all? Rather than buying souvenirs that will bring more dust than pleasure to the home, why not get something that will actually have some sort of use and, let’s be honest, can be a lot more authentic than that made-in-china matryoshka. That something also happens to be deliciously delightful. What could be better?
Though caviar and vodka are usually the only delicacies tourists are exposed to, there is so much more to indulge on when in Russia!

Forest-Foods

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A defining part of the Russian lifestyle is foraging. Due to food-shortages in the USSR, Russians relied upon the forest to supplement their diet and give more variety to their meals. Unlike in Europe, where we might pick a basket of blackberries once in awhile, Russians know how to collect an unbelievable variety of plants and have almost industrialised the process of foraging; developing special tools and buckets. Instead of a small basket, one Russian would expect to collect 5-10kg of berries or mushrooms in just a few hours.

Each family has there own tradition, some may only collect chanterelles and white mushrooms to use in soups, others may know how to collect the lesser-known mushrooms that are good for marinating, others still might not bother collecting mushrooms and instead head to the meadows and gather grasses for tea and berries for compote. Some of our favourite treasures from the forest that you can take home with you include:

• Dried wild byelii gribi (white mushrooms) that work wonders in risottos and soup.
• Jars of salted pod-beryozoviki gribi (under-the-birch-tree mushrooms) to be eaten with a slice of rye bread and a drizzle of unrefined sunflower oil.
• Dried chernika (blueberry) to make a warming compote with.
• Malinovoye varenye (wild raspberry jam).
• Dried shipovnik (wild rose-hips) for an immune boosting tea.
• Oblyepiha (sea buckthorn) syrup
• Ivan-chai (willow herb) that makes the most divine, earthy tea.

You should be able to find these unbelievably healthy forest-foods at local markets and mushroom shops (yes, they are a thing!)

Dacha delights

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Russians aren’t just talented foragers, the USSR also forced them to be expert gardeners. Cucumbers grown at Russian dachas (summer houses) are nothing like the cold, flavourless specimens sold elsewhere. They’re short, spiky and crunchier than anything you’ve ever tried. Marinated with garlic and dill, they have the capacity to transform any dish from “blah” to “WOW”! Buy a jar or two from a local market or babushka to transform your salads and burgers when you’re back at home. 

Apples were a staple part of the Russian diet during hard times and its difficult to find a dacha that doesn’t have at least one gnarled apple tree. The plain breakfasts of grated carrot and apple so common during the Soviet times can perhaps explain the enviable slenderness of so many Russian women. Resourceful Russian mothers figured out how to keep apples all year round by slicing them into thin rings and stringing them to dry between trees. The result, a sour-but-sweet, chewy-yet-crispy treat, is the ideal accompaniment to pot of tea.

Tea

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Speaking of tea, on moving to Russia I was surprised to find that Russians drank even more of the stuff than the Brits. They drink it straight— with no milk or sugar to dilute its intensity. Chybrets (wild thyme) is the only additive sometimes used to lighten the bitterness, and the floral note it adds transforms a simple cup of black tea into an unmistakably sophisticated, truly Russian brew. Exquisitely packaged “chai c chebryetsom” can be bought in high-end food emporiums like Yeliseev’s.  Tea is also great when accompanied by varenye (see below) and pirozhki.

Tea-time treats

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Traditionally, tea is served with thin slices of rather sweet confectionary. Our favourite treats that never fail to satisfy a sweet tooth are:

• Halva - a large earthy and rather sinful bar made from pulverised sunflower seeds and sugar
• Pastila - fluffy cubes made from fruit juice— the Russian version of Turkish delight
• Zefir - gooey, meringue shaped clouds of delight made from beaten egg whites and apples
• Suharikis are a less indulgent, savoury snack that can also be found hanging from the handles of samovars. These crispy, pretzel-like doughnut shaped nibbles can be bought anywhere.

Varenye

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Last but not least are the varenye that are similar to jam but instead of being spread on toast, they’re so yummy that they’re often just eaten straight from the spoon! There are so many different kinds of varenye that its difficult to know where to start, but if you’re looking for something especially exotic, then a Siberian jam made from young pine cones covered in syrup is what you’re after. Another great Siberian specialty is forest honey with pine nuts.

If you are taking your next vacation in Russia, just follow your nose, and find a local market (Kuznechny Rynok is one of the the best in St. Petersburg) and you’re guaranteed to find something out of the ordinary and genuinely Russian to take home.