ilyakats's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Riga Black Balsam
Gastro Obscura
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Drinks

Riga Black Balsam

There's a legend that this Latvian herbal liqueur saved an ailing Catherine the Great.
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Adjaruli Khachapuri
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Prepared Foods

Adjaruli Khachapuri

Economists use this cheesy bread as a metric for cost of living between Georgian cities.
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Kholodets
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Prepared Foods

Kholodets

Savory meat jelly with a dollop of spicy mustard is a customary New Year's dish in Russia.
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Herring Under a Fur Coat
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Prepared Foods

Herring Under a Fur Coat

The most sobering salad of the Russian Civil War.
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Kissel
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Sweets

Kissel

The dessert that's also a meal.
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Kartoshka
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Sweets

Kartoshka

Soviet cafeterias whipped up this chocolate “potato” to use leftovers.
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Sgushyonka
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Sweets

Sgushyonka

This gooey, sweet treat was a Soviet staple.
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Russian Napoleon Cake
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Sweets

Russian Napoleon Cake

This traditional dessert commemorates the country's sweet taste of victory over the French emperor in 1812.
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Salo
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Meats & Animal Products

Salo

Usually, the only heat that gets close to this raw pork fat is a sprinkle of pepper.
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Mamajuana
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Drinks

Mamajuana

This alcoholic drink has medicinal properties (and sometimes contains turtle penis).
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Podstakannik
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Podstakannik

These old-school metal tea-glass holders are a fixture on Russian trains.
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Berliner Weisse
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Drinks

Berliner Weisse

Pink or green syrup turns a historic German ale into a tart, sweet delight.
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Zoiglbier
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Drinks

Zoiglbier

In medieval Germany, drinkers followed a star to local lager.
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Rakija
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Drinks

Rakija

The fiery fruit brandy of the Balkans.
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Kvass
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Drinks

Kvass

You can find authentic versions of this sour Slavic brew at street stalls and monasteries.
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Rauchbier
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Drinks

Rauchbier

Only a few breweries still make smoky beer in this classic German style.
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Nathan’s Famous French Fry Fork
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Nathan’s Famous French Fry Fork

The hot dog chain’s charming “bi-dent” picks up potatoes with ease.
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Midas Touch Ale
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Drinks

Midas Touch Ale

A brewery consulted drinking vessels found in the ancient king’s tomb to recreate a 2,700-year-old elixir.
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