Uzbekistan

What if I told you that snacking on the local bread was the highlight of my travels through Uzbekistan? Each region has its unique variety, and if you're asking me to pick a favourite, I'm going with the traditional lepyoshka that's made in a tandyr oven (a speciality found in Samarkand). It's got a hard, crunchy exterior that's fluffy and soft when you bite down.

Of course, Uzbekistan offers so much to the intrepid traveller besides delicious bread. Touring through the country presents a portal to the past, retracing the footsteps of the ancient trade route along the Silk Road and feasting one’s eyes on a sea of blue mosaic tiles and well-preserved ancient Islamic architecture.