Tips on Armenian Hospitality: The Taste of Armenia

Useful information and tips on Armenian food and hospitality: What to expect from the Armenian hosts and how to prepare yourself before an invitation for a meal or coffee , useful phrases on food to take away with you

Mern urish é ‘Armenia’s food products, especially its fruits and vegetables carry a  special flavor all their own. They are infused with sun and soil, rich aroma and fragrance, and a depth of taste that is difficult to find anywhere else’.

This is something you will hear again and again when you visit Armenia. And if you are Armenian, it is an unquestionable truth shared by almost everyone.

What makes Armenian cuisine especially fascinating is the way familiar fruits and vegetables are used in unexpected ways. Mulberries  թութը, cornelian cherries (հոնը- hon), hawthorn (զկեռը – zker), wild pears (վայրի տանձը vayri tandz)  , sea buckthorn  (չիչխանը chichkhan)  , rosehip (մասուրը – masur) , green walnut jam,( քանաչ ընկույզի մուրաբան  enkuizi muraba ) and dried fruit preserves all find their place alongside yogurt, flat bread ‘lavash’, chechil cheese, and other dairy products. These combinations and preparation methods are deeply rooted in Armenian tradition and are unlike those found elsewhere.

When visiting Armenia, make it a point to taste these foods and ask where they come from or how they are made. Each dish carries a story, and through them you begin to understand just how rich the country is in culinary history and food-centered traditions.

In my own family, two cornelian cherry dishes are especially well known. One is prepared with meat and generous amounts of onions; the other is a simple soup made from dried cornelian cherries. This humble dish is believed to have remarkable qualities: it helps relieve colds, wake up a drunk person, and regulate digestion. It was often prepared on holidays, especially after large feasts, to help the body recover.

Rosehip is another staple, enjoyed both as a warming tea and as a refreshing cold drink. It is boiled and then served chilled, often alongside meals, offering both flavor and nourishment.

Hospitality lies at the heart of the Armenian table. When guests are welcomed, it is common for both savory and sweet dishes to appear at the same time. Traditionally, one begins with the savory offerings and then moves on to sweets. This allows guests to see everything the hosts have prepared before settling in to eat, talk, and enjoy each other’s company unhurried and  uninterrupted ,  so the hosts are not getting distracted and  putting you at ease.

 You should also be aware that hot dishes and, in general, all appetizers are served on large plates meant to be shared by everyone, except for main courses or soups, which may be served in individual plates.However, meat, potatoes, rice, and other main dishes are usually brought in large shared platters, from which everyone serves themselves as much as they wish. And when everything seems finished, rest assured that second and even third servings will follow, enough to satisfy everyone, because Armenian hosts are very generous and hospitable.Wine and alcoholic drinks are usually served  by the men in the family, and it is possible that they will try to persuade you to taste everything.

If you do not want to drink, you may need to refuse several times and come up with a respectable reason to make your refusal convincing.

This is, of course, said jokingly, but there is some truth in it. In an Armenian family, you can drink moderately or very little it is just that the hosts simply want to make sure that you did not miss anything and that you tasted everything.

Here are a few questions and answers you can use to start a conversation about Armenian cuisine.

Սա որտե՞ղի մեղրն է։   Sa vorteghi meghrn e?English: Where is this honey from?

Համեցեք ճաշելու, սոված չե՞ք։   Hametsek djashelu, sovats chek?English: Please join us for a meal, aren’t you hungry?

Սուրճ եփե՞մ, թե հաց դնենք։  Surj yepem, te hats dnenk?English: Shall I make coffee, or shall we put out some food?

Սրանից անպայման փորձեք, շատ թարմ է։ Sranits anpayman pordzek, shat tarm e.English: Be sure to try this, it’s very fresh.

Էլ ի՞նչ կուզեք։    El inch kuzek?English: What else would you like?

Դրական պատասխաններ / Positive responses Drakan patasxanner

Այո / հա / շնորհակալություն, շատ համեղ է։ Ayo / ha / shnorhakalutyun, shat hamegh e.English: Yes / sure / thank you, it’s very delicious.

Մի քիչ սոված ենք, շնորհակալություն։

Mi kich sovats enk, shnorhakalutyun.English: We’re a little hungry, thank you.

Սուրճը բավական է    Surjy bavakan e.English: Coffee is enough.

Ջուր կարելի՞ է։   Djur kareli e?English: May I have some water?

Ինչպես ասել «ոչ» Inchpes asel “voch”English: How to say “no”

Չէ, շատ merci / շատ ապրեք / մեկ ուրիշ անգամ։

Che, shat merci / shat aprēk / mek urish angam.   English: No, thank you very much / much appreciated / another time.

Չէ, նոր ենք ճաշել, շատ շնորհակալություն։

Che, nor enk djashel, shat shnorhakalutyun.English: No, we’ve just eaten, thank you very much.

Չեմ կարող, էլ տեղ չունեմ, ամեն ինչ շատ համեղ էր։

Chem karogh, el tegh chunem, amen inch shat hamegh er.English: I can’t, I don’t have any room left, everything was delicious.

Շատ շնորհակալություն հյուրասիրության համար։

Shat shnorhakalutyun hyurasirutyan hamar.English: Thank you very much for the hospitality.

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With love

Sona Vanyan