Uzbekistan’s non has been recognised by CNN Travel as one of the 50 best breads in the world. The international travel portal praised the country’s round, beautifully decorated breads for their distinctive taste and aroma, achieved through traditional clay-oven baking.
«Uzbek non varies across regions, from Tashkent’s chewy versions to Samarkand loaves showered in black nigella seeds,» CNN Travel noted. The publication highlighted the unique artistry of Uzbek bakers, who adorn the breads with intricate patterns, spirals, and stamps before baking them in tandyr ovens.
According to the portal, the charm of Uzbek bread lies not only in its flavour but also in the ritual surrounding its preparation and sharing. Freshly baked non (lepyoshkas) are delivered straight from the tandyr to markets and cafés, allowing people to enjoy them while still warm.
Earlier this year, on February 5, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice granted geographical indication status to Samarkand bread, officially recognising its cultural and regional heritage.
CNN Travel’s list also features other famous breads such as Afghanistan’s bolani, Iran’s sangak, Russian karavai, Armenian lavash, the French baguette, Canada’s Montreal bagel, China’s shaobing, Georgia’s khachapuri, Italy’s ciabatta, and Turkey’s simit.
Kursiv also reports that Samarkand has been named Culture Capital of the Islamic World 2025, with a calendar of events celebrating poetry, performance, and cuisine.
