The name "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" (USSR) conjures up images of imposed austerity and controlled conformity. In reality, however, the peoples that reside in this former superpower are anything but conformed. The climate of the country is as varied as are its peoples - containing everything from arid desert to the most barren Polar Regions in Siberia.

How did these peoples get to where they are today - in many large and small fragmented nations? In much of their history, on can see a close correlation with food and food production.

From the 16th through the early 20th centuries, Russia was ruled by czars, emperors whose title can be derived from the word "Caesar." By the twentieth century, however, the peasants were unable to meet their daily food portion that they needed, and began to feel disillusioned with the czar at the time, Nicholas II. In response, Nicholas II formed the Duma, the parliament of Russia that continues today. As if that were not enough for the already troubled czar, Germany declared war on Russia in the First World War. While Nicholas II was off fighting in the war, his wife, Alexandrina fell under the influence of Grigory Rasputin, the so-called holy monk that allegedly cured Prince Alexis of his hemophilia. According to legend, the nobles, upset with the influence of Rasputin, invited him to a feast and poisoned his food. The "holy" man did not die of poison, nor did he die of the bullets shot at him later that evening by the guards. However, as he was running away, he tripped and fell into a stream and died.

Whatever the legends, many people had become exasperated with the outdated government. In 1917, the first of two revolutions occurred, and in October of 1918, another, which put Vladimir Lenin into power in a new, Bolshevik government. In 1922, however, Joseph Stalin came into power, the dictator of the newly formed USSR. He collectivized farming under the totalitarian government. All production of food was controlled and distributed by the state alone. Stalin introduced the famous "5-Year Plans," under which the economy was planned once every five years.

The Soviet Union ended, however, in 1991. In Russia, the largest entity of the USSR, the end of the Soviet Union brought about westernization. McDonald's, the popular fast food chain in the United States, became extremely popular even in Russia. The name "McDonald's," however, had to be written in both Latin and Cyrillic text. Many Russians, even under this new barrage of Western products, remained traditional with their food. Most Russians can be seen travelling to the town market each day to buy their daily food - including the well-known staples of the Russian diet: cabbage, potatoes, carrots, sour cream and apples. Russians, living in harsh climates, use these ingredients to make the best from what little they have. A famous Russian soup created in this fashion is Borscht, made with beets. Other differences between Russian's gastronomy and the West's are the way they eat. Russian's eating habits include holding the fork in their left hand, with the knife in the right. The Russians are also known to eat cake with a dessert spoon.

Other regions of the former USSR, despite having been in the same nation as Russia previously, have very different lifestyles and habits of eating.

To the northwest are the Baltic nations: Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Even throughout the existence of the Soviet Union, this region was most closely linked to the European lifestyle. Being on the Baltic Sea, these three nations rely heavily on fishing, but they also make frequent use of dairy products. Lithuania is the most agrarian of the three, while Latvia and Estonia are much more industrialized.

South of the Baltic nations is Ukraine. This nation has been called the "breadbasket" of the Soviet Union - and rightfully so - the French author Honoré de Balzac counted no less than 77 ways that Ukrainians made bread. The Ukrainian's reply: No one could count how many ways we make our cakes. Not only is this region famous for its bread, but also its beets and sugar production. Also known is the hospitality of this region. To this day, the host of a reception often gives his guests a khlib i sil, or a loaf of bread with salt on top. Equally famous are Ukrainian Easter eggs. They are made by poking a small hole on either side of an egg, and blowing out the insides to make a hollow eggshell. The outsides are beautifully decorated.

Continuing on our tour of the former Soviet Union, we come to a region east of Ukraine: the Caucasus. This region, covering the area of the Caucasus Mountains, includes the countries of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. The region, especially Georgia, is most noted for its wine. When asking for some wine in a Georgian restaurant, the waiter often asks how many bottles you want. Food and drink have inspired that country greatly. It influenced one of their stories about the creation of the world. While God was handing out parcels of land to each culture, He forgot the Georgians, who had been eating and drinking on the side of the road. When He finally went to them, there was nothing left for the Georgians. However, the leader of their culture told God that, while He was giving land to others, the Georgians were celebrating the beauty of His creation. So God said that He would give the Georgians the most beautiful spot on earth: the spot He had been saving for Himself.

The countries of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia are supposedly home to what the Russians call dolgozhiteli, or long-lifers. These people reportedly can live up to 160 years! How can this be possible? Dr. Alexander Leaf of the Massachusetts General Hospital examined these claims and interviewed alleged dolgozhiteli. The long-lifers claimed the food they ate allowed them to live longer than most. Their diet included mostly vegetables and milk curds. Their habits included getting up early and bathing in the cold streams, no matter what the temperature. Dr. Leaf, however, disputed the fanciful claims of the long-lifers.

Farther east are the central Asian nations: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kirgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. This area has been the crossroads of many cultures, due to the amount of trade that occurred along the "Silk Route," which passed through the region. Kazakhstan, the largest of these nations has been a powerhouse for grain production. It is home to approximately 200 000 nomad shepherds. Tajikistan is similar to Kazakhstan. It also contains many nomads, moving and living in portable tents called yuriks. Turkmenistan is dominated by desert, but it does have some claim to agriculture. Its major crop is alfalfa, used mostly to feed the main livestock of the country: sheep. Kirgyzstan's major livestock, however, is horses. Horses play a central part in the life of the Kirgyzstanis. They are used mostly for transportation, but also are a food source. They claim, however, that they would never eat a horse that had once been saddled.

Uzbekistan is another country that certainly relies on the most traditional ways of cooking and eating. Grocery stores are subject to a lot of skepticism in this highly cultural nation. Flat loaves of bread are baked daily by in stone ovens by the housewives. Along with this bread (called lepeski), a common modern Uzbekistani meal might include manty (dumplings) and plov (pilaf). All of these are eaten on a large, central rug called a Bukhara.

In the farthest northern regions of the former USSR reside many indigenous Siberian peoples. These are perhaps the cultures that have had to adapt themselves most to a harsh, bitter cold environment. One of these cultures, the Chukchis, has had to rely mostly on the food and resources they can retrieve from the ocean. Their major foods include seals, whales, and reindeer, but these and other animals have many more uses for the Chukchis. For example, the whale blubber can be used as oil to light lamps. Walrus tusks can be used for coasters on a sled. Reindeer fur can be made into clothing and as covering for the native huts, called yarangi. These cultures have been very isolated from the rest of the world. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the Chukchis had still been living as in prehistory. It was not until 1937 when these indigenous people were taught a written language.

One of the reasons why the Soviet Union dissolved, was that each culture was extremely separate and unique. Each culture had their own way of interpreting the food available to them: from the khlib i sil of Ukraine to the manty of Uzbekistan. The diversity of these foods reflects the diverse nature of the climates, customs, cultures and the peoples themselves.

	Make Borscht.
	Learn some food terms in the Russian language.
	Find out more about Russian food.