Duke Jacob of the Duchy of Kurzeme and Zemgale was on the throne from 1642 until 1862, and during that time the duchy rapidly expanded ship building operations, opened the first factories and improved agricultural output. Jacob's ships plied the seas to export goods, to establish colonies in Tobago and Gambia, and to bring sugar, coffee and spices back to Europe. This was the age when potatoes first appeared in Latvia, though it took a couple of centuries for them become beloved.
A great delicacy in Kurzeme is lamprey from the Usma River. It is served in soups, baked or smoked. During the season, there will be dishes of garfish, smelt or Baltic herring, while sprats, herring and salmon are available year-round. Rye is used for rye bread, sourdough bread or carrot buns, and barley is used for various porridges. Local ladies will be happy to teach you how to prepare local dishes.
During the Summer Solstice, a special cheese is almost universal, while on a daily basis, there are other tasty cheeses from cow and goat milk. Local meat and fowl dishes are popular, sometimes potted in clay pots together with vegetables. Side dishes include pumpkin, vegetables, root vegetables, mushrooms, beans or grits with sinfully tasty sauces. Taverns will offer wild game during the hunting season, including venison, beaver and rabbit.
Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy pie, honey cakes and poppy seed pastries that are still prepared according to a Medieval recipe. For dessert, have some blackberry dumplings or a dessert made of rye bread, honey, lingonberries or cranberries, and sweet cream. Slake your thirst with aromatic herbal teas with honey. Enjoy homemade wine, tasty beer or a glass of something stronger.
1-12
Leistungen
