From breathtakingly luxurious palaces to wartime trenches – everyone will find an engaging holiday destination in Zemgale. Throughout history, Zemgale region has been closely connected with agriculture. Perhaps this is why it is a region where you can discover and enjoy both traditional tastes and innovations of the world of gastronomy. You can enjoy different flavours at the annual harvest and sowing festival, which takes place in the open-air museum “Ausekļu dzirnavas”. During this festival, ancient crafts, field work and machinery are demonstrated; there is also a market of artisans, bread is baked in the museum and you can taste pancakes. Every year, the Apple festival is held in Dobele, which gathers apple growers and producers from all over Latvia to celebrate the festival of apple flavours.
Sēļi flavour heritage
Sēļi is one of the Baltic tribes, which until the 13th century inhabited part of the territory of Latvia, mainly on the left bank of the Daugava. There is a Lithuanian influence in the cuisine – instead of cepelinai, they offer potato dumplings which are similar to those. Sēļi also eat zilce or jellied meat from veal. They also prepare beetroot soup, called batviņi. “Gulbji” is a Sēļi farmstead, where you can see the ancient buildings and the beautiful garden, as well as taste the traditional food by Sēļi to enjoy it first-hand. There are recipes that are passed down from generation to generation and carefully preserved in tradition. The hostess of “Gulbji” offers various dishes and drinks: batviņi soup, sēļi cepeliniai, guļbešņīki, a specialty food made of pig’s lungs šmurgulis, turnip soup, stewed beans, heated birch juice, rhubarb kvass and grandpa’s beer. You can spend the night in the farmstead, go to the sauna and pamper your skin with scrubs.
“Zoltners”
If you head to the Tērvete side and visit Tērvete Nature Park, a visit to the restaurant, hotel and brewery “Zoltners” will be another elegant taste experience and activity. Guests of the restaurant are given the opportunity to get to know Northern European flavour combinations from fresh seasonal products. Naturalness and simplicity are the essential elements of “Zoltners” menu, which are perfectly complemented by wine or beer brewed by Zoltners.
A meal at the greenhouse
“Panna Cafe Koknese” is a cosy cafe where you can find a moment of peace, spend time with friends and family or celebrate a special event. If you want to enjoy delicious moments, you can do so on a wide terrace or in wonderful glass houses – little greenhouses, where it is possible to enjoy a meal in any weather. The diverse menu of food and drinks will suit not only adults, but also children and young people. In addition, “Panna Cafe Koknese” gives you a chance to enjoy alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails created by Andris Reizenbergs, one of the most recognised Latvian bartenders.
A meal at Rundāle Palace
The Rundāle Palace ensemble is the most outstanding monument of Baroque and Rococo architecture in Latvia, built from 1736 to 1740 as the summer residence of Ernst Johan von Biron, Duke of Courland – a favourite of the Empress of Russia Anna Ioannovna (Anna Ivanovna). It’s a place worth visiting. After exploring the palace and taking a walk in the inspiring and wonderful garden, you can continue your road to discoveries. By discovering flavours. You can do so in the palace cafe “Ozollāde”. The cafe’s menu includes appetisers, soups, main dishes, vegetarian dishes and desserts based on products from nearby farms.
The Latvian candy “Gotiņa”
A candy that brings back childhood memories to every Latvian – “Gotiņa”. It is produced by “Skrīveru saldumi”, and although you can buy “Gotiņa” in most stores in Latvia, only the “Skrīveru saldumi” factory will give you a better chance of getting to know the classic and modern flavours of “Gotiņa”. In recent years, the company has developed rapidly and produces various sweets of high quality and a wide assortment of chocolate, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, candied fruit and other valuable delicacies. At the “Skrīveru saldumi” factory, it is not only possible to buy products, but also to go on a tour, enjoy the nuances of taste in tastings and participate in various sweet-making master classes.
Nuances of beercrafting
“BURSH” is one of the smallest breweries in Latvia, and as the brewmasters say, they don’t have long traditions, but they make good beer. When visiting the “BURSH” brewery, you have the opportunity to taste the nuances of modern Latvian craft beer. Beer is made from water, barley malt, hops and yeast, boiled on a wood stove, fermented in oak barrels and matured for 30 days. Moreover, only natural raw materials are used in the process of making the hop beverage. “BURSH” brewers welcome both individual visitors and groups of tourists (with prior booking).
“Tērvetes vīni”
“Tērvetes vīni” is a family winery in Tērvete. Here they make wine from home-grown berries and fruits – grapes, raspberries, apples, cherries, gooseberries, currants, quinces – and from the “special vegetable” – rhubarb. The owners of the brewery are happy to share their love for this ancient drink by offering a tour of the winery. Depending on the season, tasting of various fruit and berry wines, sparkling wines and brandies is offered. The hostess Dace also takes care of other authentic and local flavours – home-baked bread and handmade cheese. The tasting lasts for about 1.5 hours, but you must book it in advance by contacting “Tērvetes vīni”.
Quail farm “Rīta putni”
The farm “Rīta putni” hosts the quail egg and meat delicacy factories “Olalā!” and “Bučers”. A farm visit is the best way to get to know the different flavours that can be obtained from quail eggs and meat products. You can buy various products from the shop at the farm. Every Sunday there is a French-style barbecue carousel, where quail is grilled, served with potatoes and special sauces. There’s also a romantic greenhouse at the farm for various festivities.
Chicory coffee
Jēkabpils region can be proud of a special drink – chicory and grain cafe. Chicory coffee has a specific taste, reminiscent of black coffee with a hint of nuts. “Kafeja Alīda” is a family business that has preserved the craft of chicory coffee according to the granny’s recipe. All raw materials are obtained from local fields and woods. The visitors can take a tour around the factory and not only taste, but even prepare their own coffee in a special workshop. You must book in advance, if you wish to see the coffee factory and enjoy tasting.
Traditional and modern herbs
Each region is characterised by the herbs it offers and uses. Latvia and Zemgale is no exception. Dill, scallions, onions, garlic and parsley have traditionally been the herbs used by every grandmother in Latvia. In recent years, the availability of herbs has changed and classical tastes are mixed with exotic. The owners of the homestead “Duciņi” are well aware of it themselves, and they have created a dried herb mix “ieDillo”. It is possible to visit the farm and buy products from the farmers. Also, visitors have the opportunity to create their own unique mixture of dried herbs, and, upon prior booking, to taste soup cooked on the fire according to granny Berta’s special recipe. To enjoy such an experience, contact the farm in advance and book a place. You can get to know both the traditional and the modern world of herbs at “Ķiploku pasaule” - a farm where vegetables and garlic are grown. Here, herb mixes, sauces, snack and even sweets are made of garlic. If you make a prior booking, all this can be seen and enjoyed at tastings, where the owners talk about garlic, its cultivation, and also give you the chance to taste garlic soup, garlic tea and special garlic toasts.
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