Geographical position
The Ukraine
is situated in the east of Europe. It borders with Russia in
the East, Belorussia in the north, Poland
and Slovakia in the west and Hungary, Romania
and Moldavia in the south. The Ukraine
occupies the northwest part of the East European lowlands and a small part of
the Carpathians and the Crimean Mountains, and in the south it is surrounded by the Black and Azovsko Sea.
It is covered with a thick network of large and small rivers. The Ukraine
has a population of 46 299 862 inhabitants living on an area of 603 700 m2.
The capital city is Kiev.
Historical influence
The Ukraine
was long the centre of the East Slavic Republic, Kiev Russia, which rose in the 10th and 11th century as
the largest and most powerful European state. The region fell under the control
of Lithuania in the 14th century, then Poland at
the end of the 17th century and finally under Russian rule in 1918.
Korova and paska are names of bread served for special occasions. One is considered as wedding bread and the other is an essential companion at Easter.
The Ukraine gained independence, but not for long, as in 1920 it became the constituent part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and later the USSR. In 1986 the Ukraine was struck by the Černobil nuclear ecological disaster and in 1991 it gained independence.
Cuisine
The Ukraine cuisine is very tasty, but due to a high level of fat it is also full of calories. It contains traditional elements with the influence of German, Russian, Turkish and Polish cuisine.
The lowlands of South Ukraine are considered one of the most fertile parts in the whole world.
Plenty of rain and a mild climate have gained the Ukraine
the name of the Bread Basket of Europe. Fruit, vegetables, forest fruit,
mushrooms, potato, cabbage, beans, peas, sugar beet, millet, meat with emphasis
on pork are only a part of the Ukraine
culinary heritage, while bread is considered to be its foundation. Let’s embark
on a culinary journey!
The most famous of soups are borshch (well known soup
among Slavic nations with beet, cabbage and meat) and solyanka (soup
with mushrooms, meat or fish). They are followed by ukha – fish soup.
Main course follows soup:
- blyntsi – pan cakes filled with meat, cheese and other fillings
- shashlyk – marinated lamb and vegetable sticks
- pyrohy – fried croquettes. Can be a dessert depending on filling (e.g. fruit, poppy seed, etc.)
- varenyky – croquettes filled with meat and vegetables
- deruny – potato pancakes
- mlyntsi – pancakes filled with fresh cheese, fruit and butter
- holubtsi - sarma with cabbage or wine leaves, minced meat and millet or rice
- kasha hrechana zi shkvarkamy – buckwheat with chopped and fried bacon and onion
- stuffed zucchini or aubergines
- kovbasa - sausage
- pechenya – roast meat (pork, lamb, beef, veal and similar)
Salads are and integral part of a meal and in the Ukraine there is no shortage. For example Olivye is known in the world as Russian salad, containing boiled vegetables and mayonnaise. Vesnianyi salad is made of finely chopped gherkins and tomato seasoned with parsley. Kapustianyi salad is based on sour and fresh chopped cabbage. Pickled vegetables are also consumed as salad, especially in cold winter months that lack fresh vegetables.
The lowlands of South Ukraine are considered to be the most fertile parts of the world.
The lowlands of South Ukraine are considered to be the most fertile parts of the world.
Korova and paska are the names of bread served for special occasions. While the first is shaped as a braid and is considered to be wedding bread, the other is an essential companion at Easter.
Sweets are always welcome after a good meal. Here also you cannot come out a loser. You can indulge in pampushky which is very similar to our doughnuts. Syrniki are specific for both Poland and Russia (dough and curds, fried).
As beverages are concerned, we cannot
forget mineral water, kefir, compote and kvass which are the main non-alcoholic
beverages. Horilka is the name for vodka, and we recommend you try Nemiroff
Wodka and Olimp.
The largest producers of beer (pyvo) are Chernihivske, Slavutych,
Rogan, Lvivske, Obolon and other.
Travel tips
- The best time to travel to the Ukraine are spring and autumn due to the pleasant climate.
- Little of English is spoken so we recommend you take a phrase book with you.
- The usual tip is 5%.
- Over 20 years have passed since the Černobil catastrophe and Kiev as well as the food produced in Kiev are safe. With all due respect towards these edible Ukraine godsends, mushrooms, venison and berries should be avoided.