Thanks to Iran’s location on the Silk Road, the country’s cuisine has benefited from ancient traditions that have made it what it is today. Iranian cuisine has many features in common with Indian, Central Asian, Turkish, and Middle Eastern cuisines, but it has its characteristics and is undeniably different from its other counterparts. So, it’s better to give more value to food tourism in Iran.
A good Iranian cook has an almost miraculous ability to transform simple ingredients into elegant and beautiful dishes. This style of Iranian cooking is sophisticated and refined enough to hold its own with other great cuisines worldwide. Still, it needs to be more known and appreciated outside the region.
Iran’s food tours are an unforgettable journey to Iran’s cultural and culinary heart, satisfying every appetite.
What is Culinary Tourism?
Culinary tourism in the world is a highly effective form of travel that attracts tourists. What is Iran culinary tourism? It involves researching and discovering the unique and unfamiliar foods of each region, while immersing oneself in the diverse food cultures that Iran has to offer. Iranian culinary tourism unveils the country’s rich gastronomic heritage, allowing visitors to delve into traditional Iranian dishes, sample local delicacies, and learn about Iranian cooking techniques. From aromatic Persian spices to regional specialties, Iran culinary tourism offers an unforgettable journey through the diverse flavors and culinary traditions of the country.
Iranian Foods: Worth the Experience!
Taste your taste buds and enjoy the most delicious Iranian dishes. Food and drink in Iran have a public face, but its most complete development and greatest glory can be found in the private space of the home, among relatives and friends. Especially in social gatherings, the variety and abundance of food and the friendliness and generosity of the host are remarkable. Sharing food is an important mechanism of socialization and social bonding.
A traditional proverb says that the way to win someone’s favor is to share your food with them: namakgir kardan , which means “having someone to have a taste of the salt in your food” (i.e., to become bound by hospitality).
Food is not an end but a means of family solidarity and social exchange, especially in the traditional world of the past when families were extended, and eating was a shared affair in the extended family.
In general, several important cultural factors have influenced cooking methods in Iran. The most obvious of these are the requirements of Islamic dietary law since the vast majority of the population is Muslim: meat must come from ritually slaughtered animals. Pork and some other foods are prohibited. And wine or other alcoholic beverages, although certainly used by some people at various times, are illegal under Islamic law and have been strictly prohibited since the establishment of the Islamic Republic. Before the 1979 revolution, alcoholic beverages and pork in the form of ham and hot dogs were available in modern parts of big cities, even though most people avoided these foods. Secularized Iranians, especially the educated ones, are not too concerned about religious dietary restrictions.
Prominent cities in Culinary tourism in Iran
As mentioned, each country has different and special foods according to its culture. Iran is not subject to this rule; every part has diverse and special foods. It has caused each of Iran’s cities to be a tourist destination for food on its own, hosting many tourists from different parts of the country and the world every year. In the following, we discuss Iran’s most important Culinary tourism destinations.
1. Gilan Food Tourism
Gilan, located in northern Iran, has many local and famous dishes. For this reason, it has been able to take the first place in terms of the variety of local and traditional foods. Aloo Mesma, Baqaliqatoq, Torsh Tareh, Anarbij, Naz Khatoon, Torshvash, etc. They are considered one of the most important local and traditional dishes of Gilan province and its various cities, such as Rasht and Bandar Anzali. Razaghi Restaurant and Moharram Restaurant are two of the most popular restaurants in Gilan that offer a variety of local dishes in this city.
You can discover the culinary wonders of Gilan, Iran, where Mirza Ghasemi recipe shines as a flavorful masterpiece. Experience rich flavors and traditional cooking techniques in this gastronomic paradise.
2. Culinary tourism in Mashhad
Many restaurants in Mashhad have these dishes on their menu, the most famous of which is the traditional restaurant of Baba Godrat and Eram Shandiz in Mashhad. In addition to being a pilgrimage destination, the city of Mashhad is considered a destination for Culinary tourism, which many people visit every year for this reason. Shole Mashhadhi and Shishlik are two of the famous dishes of this city, which have been registered in the list of spiritual works of Iran due to their quality and special taste.
3. Culinary Tourism in Kermanshah
Kermanshah is one of those provinces that has become one of the tourist destinations for food in Iran due to its high food diversity. There are many cities in Kermanshah, each with a diverse and unique local culture and food.
Thalak Khoresht,Dande kebab, Ash Abbas Ali, Ash Sorane, Ash Kermanshahi, Dast Pich, Shalmin, Jarg o boz, Valek Palo, Koko Paghare, Vanushk Palo and so on. . . They are among the local dishes of Kermanshah, which are cooked in different styles in each city.
4. Isfahan Culinary Tourism
The city of Isfahan is one of the different tourist destinations for food in Iran. Because the dishes of this city are mostly till it and rice is not used in them. Few people have yet to hear of Bryan Isfahan. This dish is one of the traditional and famous dishes of Isfahan, which is cooked with fresh sheep meat.
Kebab Hosseini, Yakhni Torosh, Gheimeh Rizeh, Kaleh Joosh, Desserts, Douogh, Gooshfil, and Khoresht-e-Mast are some famous traditional dishes. Isfahan is considered.
5. Shiraz Food Tourism
In addition to its historical tourist attractions, the city of Shiraz has a variety of traditional foods. For this reason, today, as a Culinary tourism destination, it has been able to attract food tourists well.
Mosama Morgh Shirazi, Kalam Polo (cabbage with rice), Ghambar Polo (Ghanbar Polo), Do Piazeh Aloo, Ash-e Kardeh, Shekar Polo, Havij Polo, Koofteh Hooloo, Ranginak are among the most famous local dishes of Shiraz.
The Best Destination For Culinary Tourism in Iran
So far, we have learned about the best destinations for Culinary tourism in Iran. As it was said, Gilan province, with more than 400 types of diverse and colorful food, now takes first place in the diversity of food in Iran and will always be considered one of the best tourist destinations in Iran. Rasht is one of the important cities of this province. The traditional and local foods of Rasht have caused the Culinary tourism of Rasht to attract more tourists to this region.
