Samarkand chickpeas have been granted a geographical indication
The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan officially granted geographical indication status to the Samarkand chickpea stew, which is one of our national dishes. This was reported by Upl.uz.
This status has been registered in the state property intellectual property registry. This was reported by the press service of the Samarkand regional administration.
The official document was ceremoniously handed over to Adiz Boboev, the acting regional governor. The geographical indication status legally confirms that the uniqueness and reputation of the product are specifically linked to a certain region — in this case, the Samarkand region.
The unique natural conditions of this region, along with traditional recipes and cooking methods passed down through generations, give the product its distinctiveness. This status ensures that the Samarkand chickpea stew is only applied to products prepared in accordance with traditional methods within the region.
This protects the name from illegal use. According to experts, this legal protection not only serves to preserve cultural and gastronomic heritage but also helps to develop gastronomic tourism and strengthen the Samarkand brand in both domestic and international markets.
The traditional Samarkand chickpea stew is cooked over low heat for 8-12 hours, often overnight, in an iron pot. It is this long cooking process that gives the broth and chickpeas their unique taste and texture.
Quick cooking methods cannot achieve such results. The granting of this status is considered an important step in protecting the interests of regional chefs and restaurant owners.
