The leading Spanish online edition "La Vanguardia" published an article dedicated to Uzbek Bazaar. The article was written by editorial columnist Sergi Ramis under the heading "Kumtepa Bazaar in Uzbekistan, the largest market in Central Asia".
The author writes about the Kumtepa market located near one of the most ancient cities of Uzbekistan – Margilan. “The Kumtepa bazaar is located on a vast territory of the earth,” he says. - A guest can spend the whole day wandering through the open-air marketplaces. In size and bustle, it resembles the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar (China). The bazaar is grouped into sectors, as befits a market that originated many centuries ago.
The city of Margilan is located in Fergana Valley on the crossroad of ancient trade routes of the Great Silk Road. Margilan is known for making the best silk in Central Asia, which has become famous all over the world today.
The author also notes in his article that fabrics made from silk threads, as in the ancient times of the Silk Road, still play an important role in this region of Uzbekistan. In the bazaar, you can find a small building with about twenty shops selling silk fabrics. A market was built around this treasure, stretching along both sides of the Margilan tract.
“The Ferghana Valley, where Margilan is located, is the most fertile oasis in Central Asia. Here you can find grapes, apples, potatoes, peppers, nuts, and other dried fruits in abundance. All products are neatly folded. As in other oases of Central Asia, melons and watermelons here have competitive sizes. They are so huge and heavy that special bags are attached to them,” the article says.
Amongst the Uzbek silk, juicy Uzbek fruits and vegetables sold in the bazaar, the author pays special attention to delicious Uzbek bread. He writes that each bread master has his own identifying pattern. As he expresses, the incredible aroma of bread causes a feeling of irresistible temptation to try it, and we have to agree with his statement.
“The tortilla, which has been declared an intangible cultural heritage of mankind, is not only an important food item in the diet of people. In Uzbek culture, it is also a symbol of well-being and prosperity, and it is unthinkable for bread to be left on the table at the end of a meal. Here it is not customary to treat bread impolitely or throw it away, which should be remembered by foreign guests,” the Spanish journalist admires.
Then the author continues with the favorite food of people in Uzbekistan, saying that Uzbek people love lamb very much. He describes various types of Uzbek kebabs made with lamb. “The whole of Kumtepa Bazaar smells of fried lamb, and in the market, where specialized shops are concentrated, there are areas over which a cloud of smoke constantly hangs” – quoted from the article.
Besides the historical sites in the ancient Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, Uzbek bazaars are another attraction for those who plan to travel to Uzbekistan. Whether it is the popular Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent, the famous Siab Bazaar located in Samarkand, or any other, as soon as you enter, a delicious blend of various local spices, mouthwatering fruits and dry fruits, a rich variety of Uzbek bread seduces your appetite, inviting you to a different world of taste to relish and discover. We highly recommend to travelers visiting our country not to miss this colorful and delightful opportunity to enjoy during their trip to Uzbekistan.
