Another Uzbek dish earns geographical indication status

“Sokak somsasi,” a traditional national dish originating from the village of Sookak in the Parkent district of Tashkent region, has officially been registered as a geographical indication by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This was reported by the ministry’s press service.

The dish is notable for its distinctive natural ingredients, particularly the use of a wild plant or spinach locally known as "mador", which grows exclusively in the Sookak mountains. Its unique flavor and the special method of dough preparation also set it apart.

The registration as a geographical indication affirms the dish’s connection to the Sookak region and provides legal protection for its quality, historical significance, and cultural heritage.

For reference, a geographical indication is a type of intellectual property that signifies a product’s link to a specific region. The product’s quality, reputation, or other characteristics are closely associated with the natural conditions, traditional knowledge, and cultural or historical context of that area.

It is worth noting that the Ministry of Justice previously registered several other Uzbek products as geographical indications. These include “Gijduvon shashlik” on August 24, 2023, “Guzar tandoori meat” on January 8, 2024, the internationally renowned “Samarkand bread” on February 4, and in June, “Khorezm tukhumbaragi” and “Andijan duppisi.”