Fifth Bread Festival in the Eastern Rhodopes

From 26 to 28 July, the Bread Festival of the Eastern Rhodopes took place for the fifth time in the village of Rabovo, Stambolovo Municipality. It is initiated by the active member of the New Thracian Gold network in the region Petko Angelov – producer of organic einkorn, one of the oldest in Bulgaria cereals. NTG is one of the co-organizers of the festival.

The festival was welcomed by the Mayor of Stamlobovo Madzhid Mandadzha. In Bulgaria and Europe, the interest for the wheat is steadily growing, says the NTG coordinator on organic farming Vladislav Popov. He also stressed the importance of combining organic einkorn and related food products with ecotourism and nature conservation. Angelov's family is a good example to be followed. Einkorn bread is one of the attractions Petko Angelov and his wife Stefka offer to tourists in their guest house "Tepavitsata" (The Mill) along the Arda River in the village of Rabovo.

Guests and visitors witnessed the track of the einkorn bread all the way: from start to finish, from harvesting to baking. Ancient rituals of gratitude for the good harvest and a Dionysian ritual of the wine were also presented. The guests tasted a fresh from the oven einkorn bread, cheese, organic products from the NTG network, pastry and cakes prepared by the hostess Stefka, homemade einkorn beer and whiskey even!

Awards were given:

Golden einkorn – to the dance group “Temp” for presenting the ancient rituals
First silver einkorn - to the grandmothers from the village of Svirachi (Ivaylovgrad Municipality) for their attractive presentation
Second silver einkorn – to the youngest participant and his grandmother for their “sunny” einkorn bread
First copper einkorn – to the Community centre Ivaylovgrad for the most attractive stand
Second copper eincorn – to Fatme Ali from the village of Rabovo for organic einkorn keshkek (local dish).

The event was covered by BNT, Bulgarian National Television, other media and photographers organized by Photosynthesis.

For more pictures look here. See here the reportage of BNT

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