The cuisine
Typical Bulgarian food includes the famous Shopska Salad – a mixture of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions and cheese; the Bulgarian yoghurt; Tarator - cold soup made of yogurt, cucumbers, dill, garlic and nuts; lyutenitza - a mixture of vegetables – tomatoes, peppers, and herbs, cooked together and preserved in jars and many more.
Bulgarians have produced wine since ancient times and they are highly appreciated by critics. Thracian wine in Antiquity was famous all over Europe. Nowadays, the best Bulgarian wines are the Mavrud, Gamza, Pelin, Pamid, Dimyat, Misket, Muskat, and the Melnik wines. Bulgarian beers are also well prized. Another popular Bulgarian alcoholic drink is the rakia, which is manufactured through distillation of fermented grapes, plums or other fruits. Its alcoholic content is 36 to 55 degrees.
