RESTAURANTS
NATIONAL CUISINE
Must-Try
Harissa
Considered the national dish of Armenia, harissa is a thick porridge made by slowly simmering korkot (dried or roasted cracked wheat) together with fatty pieces of lamb or chicken meat.
When Armenian holy days involved fasting and penance, herbs were substituted for meat in harissa.
Said to have been invented in the Ararat plains, the origins of the dish can be traced back to ancient times. According to the Armenian legend Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint of Armenia, gave a meal of love and charity to the poor.
NATIONAL DRINKS
Must-Try
Armenian wines: a hidden gem for wine enthusiasts
Armenia has a long and rich history of winemaking, dating back thousands of years. Today, Armenian wines are a hidden gem for wine enthusiasts and are becoming increasingly popular among tourists who want to experience something unique and special.
Wine production occupies a special place in Armenia. During archaeological excavations in 2007 in a cave known as the Areni-1 (Bird's) Cave, near the village of Areni, a group of Armenian and Irish archaeologists discovered the world's oldest winery, which testifies that wine was produced in Armenia 6000 years ago. In the winery, vessels with the remains of wine, grape seeds, and winemaking tools were found: fermentation barrels, a wine press, storage jugs, and pot shards.
