Lithuania has renewed the Cold Beetroot Soup Map, an interactive culinary guide inviting visitors to explore Lithuania’s gastronomic scene and savor the vibrant traditional dish. The map features top restaurants and local eateries, providing a seamless platform to indulge in Lithuania’s authentic flavors and rich culinary heritage.

Lithuania’s Culinary Crown Jewel? Explore the Delights of Cold Beetroot Soup With Lithuania’s Renewed Culinary Guide

Lithuania’s national tourism development agency, Lithuania Travel,  is renewing  an exciting initiative that delights food enthusiasts and travelers alike. Introducing the new Cold Beetroot Soup Map, a one-of-a-kind culinary guide that will take visitors on a tantalizing journey through Lithuania’s vibrant gastronomic scene.

The map provides a user-friendly platform for travelers to explore Lithuania’s best culinary hotspots. The map features renowned restaurants, cozy cafes, and local eateries where visitors can indulge in the finest variations of this iconic dish, known locally as šaltibarščiai. Whether you prefer a classic recipe or a modern twist, the map has you covered, guiding you to the most authentic and innovative places serving this Lithuanian specialty.

Some of the more curious options on the menu include a take on šaltibarščiai with crayfish tails and sorrel at the Déjà vu restaurant, a bowl topped with sour cream ice cream in Dubingių žirgynas, and even a slice of šaltibarščiai cake, made at the Patore sesės bakery in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

Dating back to the 17th century, this cold beetroot soup is a seasonal dish, mostly appearing on Lithuanian menus during heat waves. The soup has a shocking bright pink color due to the natural beetroot juice and an incredibly fresh taste due to the most important ingredient in the cold soup – kephir, recognized by nutritionists as one of the healthiest products in the world. Mixed with cucumbers, dill, eggs, and other secret ingredients, this vibrant soup is a summertime favorite and a true taste of Lithuanian hospitality.

For many Lithuanians, šaltibarščiai is more than just a dish; it evokes feelings of nostalgia, childhood memories, and a sense of comfort. It is often enjoyed during family gatherings, celebrations, or simply as a comfort food that brings people together. Passed down through generations, the iconic recipe has become somewhat of a heritage item for the country.

The beloved dish has also begun to permeate pop culture in recent years, with visitors and locals alike being able to shop around for t-shirts, lighters, keychains, and even šaltibarščiai flavored snacks. At the start of June, Lithuania’s capital city even dedicated an entire festival to the soup, with murals, installations, a slide, and the numerous costumes of attendants symbolizing the fuschia-coloured dish.