7 traditional Ukrainian products you won't find on US shelves

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is one of the most beloved foods in Ukraine, known for its nutritional value and health benefits. It is not popular in the USA and is often found only in specialty stores or at inflated prices.

This is because buckwheat is not part of the traditional American diet and because of limited imports and low demand. Many Ukrainians have to order buckwheat online or bring it back from trips home.

The lack of buckwheat abroad is a common complaint among Ukrainians (photo: Freepik.com)

Sour cream

Sour cream is an essential part of many Ukrainian dishes. Although fermented dairy products are available in the USA, sour cream with its characteristic taste and consistency is rare.

Local versions often taste different due to differences in production methods and the use of stabilizers. As a result, preparing borscht or varenyky without real sour cream often loses its authenticity for immigrants.

Riazhenka

Riazhenka is a unique Ukrainian fermented dairy drink made from baked milk. It is almost unknown in the USA, and finding it in stores is almost impossible.

This is due to the lack of tradition in consuming similar products and the complexity of its production.

Riazhenka is hard to find outside Ukraine (photo: Freepik.com)

Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is a traditional Ukrainian dish rich in vitamins. It can be found in the USA, but it often tastes different due to the addition of spices like caraway, which is not typical for the Ukrainian recipe.

This makes it less appealing to those accustomed to the authentic taste. Moreover, the natural fermentation process is not always followed, which affects the quality and health benefits of the product.

Soft cheese

Soft cheese is the base of many Ukrainian dishes, such as syrnyky (cheese pancakes). In the USA, similar products like cottage cheese or ricotta have different textures and flavors, making it difficult to prepare traditional dishes using authentic recipes.

American versions of soft cheese do not closely resemble the Ukrainian taste (photo: Freepik.com)

Kvas

Kvas is a naturally fermented drink made from rye bread and is well-known to all Ukrainians.

Only pasteurized or carbonated versions are sold in the USA, and they bear little resemblance to homemade kvass from a barrel. The real taste is familiar only to immigrants or enthusiasts of Eastern European cuisine.

Salted salo

Salted salo is a true symbol of Ukrainian cuisine, hard to imagine outside the context of national culture.

In the USA, it is nearly impossible to find in its classic form – freshly salted, with garlic and pepper. Often, locals view salo as an exotic thing or even an inedible product.

Salo is available in the USA, but not salted (photo: Freepik.com)

You may be interested in:

• The 10 myths about Ukraine that Americans still believe
• 10 strange Ukrainian superstitions that surprise foreigners
• These 20 tips will help an American quickly learn the Ukrainian language

Sources: Voice of America, BBC