Dishes you should try in Yusufeli: Kuymak (cornmeal and cheese dish), Alabalık Izgara (grilled trout), Karalahana Sarması (stuffed kale leaves) and Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb). This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Yusufeli is famous for.

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Famous Dishes of Yusufeli

  • Kuymak (cornmeal and cheese dish)

    Made with cornmeal, butter and civil cheese, kuymak is Yusufeli's most loved traditional dish. It is served stretching as it is constantly stirred over the fire.

  • Alabalık Izgara (grilled trout)

    Trout caught in the Çoruh River and its tributaries is served grilled or pan-fried. Trout grown in the cold, clean waters of Yusufeli is one of the freshest flavours of the region.

  • Karalahana Sarması (stuffed kale leaves)

    Prepared by wrapping kale leaves around a rice filling, this dish is an essential winter meal in Yusufeli cuisine.

  • Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb)

    A news report describes this as a well-known dish of Yusufeli.

Dishes from Artvin Cuisine

What to eat in Artvin →

These dishes are known throughout Artvin province; see the provincial food guide for details.

  • Hopa Hamsili Ekmek (anchovy cornbread)

    Hopa bread made with cornmeal and anchovies, with a registered geographical indication.

  • Hopa Laz Böreği (custard-filled pastry)

    A sweet börek made by placing custard between layers of yufka, with a registered geographical indication.

  • Şavşat Ketesi (buttery filled pastry)

    Şavşat ketesi, a buttery pastry with a filling.

  • Borçka Demir Elması (Borçka iron apple)

    A local apple with a registered geographical indication, firm in texture and long-lasting.

What to Buy in Yusufeli: Local Products

  • Bal (honey) Honey obtained from the rich vegetation at the foot of the Kaçkar Mountains is known for its high quality. Beekeeping is an important source of income in the area.
  • Alabalık (trout) Trout raised in the Çoruh River and its tributaries is an important aquaculture product of Yusufeli. Trout grown in cold, clean waters is a valued product of the area.

What Yusufeli Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions

  • Rafting and Extreme Sports Culture

    Yusufeli is known internationally for its rafting competitions on the Çoruh River. Rafting festivals held every year draw world-class athletes and nature lovers to the district.

  • Tao-Klarjeti Heritage

    Yusufeli was once one of the important centres of the Georgian Tao-Klarjeti region. Structures such as Barhal Church and Dörtkilise are evidence of the rich cultural heritage of that period.

  • New Yusufeli

    With the construction of the Yusufeli Dam, the old district centre was flooded and an entirely new town was built. This process is one of the largest settlement relocation projects in Türkiye.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I eat in Yusufeli?

Yusufeli is known for 4 local dishes, above all Kuymak (cornmeal and cheese dish), Alabalık Izgara (grilled trout), Karalahana Sarması (stuffed kale leaves) and Cağ Kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb). Made with cornmeal, butter and civil cheese, kuymak is Yusufeli's most loved traditional dish. It is served stretching as it is constantly stirred over the fire.

What is Yusufeli famous for?

Yusufeli is known for Kuymak (cornmeal and cheese dish), Bal (honey) and Rafting and Extreme Sports Culture. Its best-known sights include Barhal (Altıparmak) Church and Çoruh River Rafting Course.

What to buy in Yusufeli?

Local products and souvenirs to buy in Yusufeli include Bal (honey) and Alabalık (trout).

Yusufeli Travel Guide

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