To get a general idea of Iranian cuisine, it is worth recalling the Central Asian cuisine: rice is the head of everything here, lamb is most often used from meat, sour-milk products and vegetables in any form are very common, and each meal is generously seasoned with a wide variety of spices. At the same time, the average tourist in Iran will be able to taste only the tip of the iceberg: in Iran, a huge number of dishes are prepared on holidays or special events in the life of the family. The most popular dish is kebab (long cutlet), there are several dozen varieties of it. Iranians also enjoy a well-deserved love for various meat and vegetable stews – we recommend trying “fesenjan” – meat stew with pomegranate juice, eggplant, nuts and cardamom Traditional bread – a flatbread baked in a primitive oven.
According to MCAT Test Centers, traditional Iranian tea with saffron is prepared in a samovar (samāvar) – such an unexpected mix of cultures!
In Iran, there are no problems with public catering: kebabs of any level are waiting at every step: from the eatery “on a working afternoon” to quite civilized restaurants.
Entertainment, excursions and sights of Iran
To list all the sights of Iran, you will need a separate multi-page site. Let’s dwell on some of them, the most must-see. On the territory of Persia – a lot of historical ruins. Their pearl is Persepolis, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. Pasargad, Hegmatan, Susa and the ziggurats of Shoga Zanbil and Sialk Mund deserve the closest attention. The excavations of ancient Meymand, one of the first human settlements in Iran (10,000 years BC), are located in the province of Kerman.
In Iran, it is a sin not to honor the memory of great people: the famous mathematician and physician Ibn Sina is buried in Hamedan, Cyrus the Great in Pasargada, Omar Khayyam in Nishapur, his brothers Hafiz and Saadi in Shiraz. Biblical characters – the prophet Daniel, as well as Mordechai and Esther found their last refuge in Susa and Hamedan, respectively. Do not miss the opportunity to visit the interior desert regions of the country with a guided tour: by camel, jeep or in a combined tour.
Natural attractions include the Ali Sadr cave with stunning stalactites, the Shevi and Bishe waterfalls, the Golestan nature reserve, the Gilan forests and the Tabriz mountains. Be sure to visit the wonderful museums: the National Museum of Iran, the National Treasury, the Carpet Museum in Tehran, the Golestan Palace Complex and the Ganj Ali Khan Hammam Museum.
