Two New Items Added to the List of Products Unique to Hungary

MTI-Hungary Today 2023.10.18.

The Hungaricum Collection has been expanded with two new elements: the Szekler Gate (Székelykapu) and lángos (deep fried flatbread), according to the decision of the Hungaricum Committee on Tuesday, the Ministry of Agriculture announced.

The Szekler gate is a typical type of large gate with a lid made with a special carpentry technique, evolving from medieval town, castle, and manor house gates. From the 17th century, the Szekler gate became increasingly distinct from the other large gates of the regions, with its carved ornamentation and the elaborate decoration of the so-called gate mirror (kaputükör). It became a real landmark and cultural relic of Szeklerland (in Transylvania, formerly part of Hungary, now Romania).

The tradition of making lángos is closely linked to the tradition of baking bread. The perfect pancake is medium thick, not too oily, soft on the inside, and crispy on the outside.

Traditionally eaten with grated cheese, sour cream, and garlic, it now comes with a wide variety of sweet and savory toppings.

A new type of farmstead, the bokortanya (small group of houses on the border between fields), has been added to the Collection of Hungarian Values. The unique settlement structure in Hungary was established in the Nyírség region (northeastern Hungary) from the mid-18th century. The people living there built dwellings and farm buildings for the cultivation of land far from inhabited areas, and other facilities for animal husbandry.

Zselic honey, a special type of honey, that has been produced in Somogy County (southwestern Hungary) for centuries, has also been included in the Collection of Hungarian Values. Thousands of bee colonies work in the Zselic hills, as beekeepers from all over the country migrate here during the linden blossoming season.

The Hungaricum Committee’s decision has increased the number of items in the Hungaricum Collection to 89, while the Hungarian Valuable Heritage lists 152 outstanding national values.

Fact

Hungaricums are high value products of Hungary, which show Hungarian uniqueness, specialty, and quality, they embody the top performance of the Hungarian people. When visiting Hungary, Hungarian gastronomy is a must as we pride ourselves in producing the King of Wines and The Wine of Kings (Tokaji), dishes like goulash or fish soup not necessarily served on Herend porcelains, but definitely with a small aperitif of pálinka to be followed by Somlói Galuska or Dobos cake as dessert. Hungaricums are not exclusively based on gastronomy, creativity can be celebrated in brand names like Rubik and his Magic Cube or Zsolnay ceramics.

Geographical Indication Registered for Pálinka in the EU and Japan

The next decision on the inclusion of new products will be in 2025.Continue reading

Via MTI, Featured image via Facebook/Retro Lángos Budapest/ Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 25