Back to basics: Ajika becomes a Georgian national heritage

The traditional Megrelian and Abkhazian receipe of spicy sauce, ajika, has received the status of "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Georgia".

The National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation granted the sauce the status in the framework of the project Georgian Taste Heritage, the website agenda.ge reported.

Ajika originates in the Western parts of Georgia, in the Samegrelo and Abkhazia regions.

The main ingredients are red pepper, garlic and dried spices. There are numerous variations of the sauce spread all over Georgia.

Legend has it that ajika dates back to the 15th century when the land owners began adding pepper to salt given to livestock, thinking that adding pepper would keep the shepherds from taking the salt from them. However, the shepherds mixed the salt and pepper with garlic and mountain herbs and thus, ajika was created.

Project organizers report that they have collected 140 recipes of well-known and unknown Georgian meals. All of them will be granted the status of of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Georgia step by step, agenda.ge says

Georgia is at the moment going through a nasty presidential election campaign, with activists of different camps trading insults against each other. But on some things Georgians are united. The love of Ajika is nationwide.

source: commonspace.eu with agenda.ge

 

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
 European Court of Human Rights orders Russia to compensate Georgia for violations committed after 2008 war

European Court of Human Rights orders Russia to compensate Georgia for violations committed after 2008 war

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered Russia to pay Georgia over €250 million for violations committed after the brief war between the two countries in 2008. Russia has stated that it will not comply with the decision of the ECHR. The Court decided on Tuesday 14th October that Russia had stopped people from crossing freely into Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgian regions that Moscow recognised as independent after the 16-day war. According to the Court, Russia committed violations including excessive use of force, ill-treatment, unlawful detention and unlawful restrictions on day-to-day movement across the administrative boundary line between Georgian-controlled territory and the Russian-backed breakaway regions.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
 European Court of Human Rights orders Russia to compensate Georgia for violations committed after 2008 war

European Court of Human Rights orders Russia to compensate Georgia for violations committed after 2008 war

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered Russia to pay Georgia over €250 million for violations committed after the brief war between the two countries in 2008. Russia has stated that it will not comply with the decision of the ECHR. The Court decided on Tuesday 14th October that Russia had stopped people from crossing freely into Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgian regions that Moscow recognised as independent after the 16-day war. According to the Court, Russia committed violations including excessive use of force, ill-treatment, unlawful detention and unlawful restrictions on day-to-day movement across the administrative boundary line between Georgian-controlled territory and the Russian-backed breakaway regions.