Cuisine
The main dish to try in the city is the famous Ferghana pilaf. Local restaurants and cafes will also introduce you to other Uzbek dishes such as shurpa, lagman, kurt, basma, manti, chuchvara, along with a wide range of Eastern sweets. Tandoori samosa and intricately patterned Uzbek flatbreads will be offered on every corner – a traditional local fast food.
And, of course, it is impossible to visit Ferghana and not delight in the abundance of fruits, vegetables, grapes, watermelons, melons, and other gifts of the generous Ferghana Valley. The fruits and berries are large, juicy, sweet, and inexpensive – there’s no need to hold back; eat as much as you want.
Souvenirs
The main souvenirs of the Ferghana Valley are Margilan silk and Rishtan ceramics. Margilan, a city located near Ferghana, has been exporting silk to Baghdad and Cairo since ancient times. Today, the “Yodgorlik” factory produces this fabric. In Ferghana, you can buy various Margilan fabrics – silk and cotton, thin and thick, and the color palette is endless.
Rishtan has specialized in pottery since ancient times, with items hand-painted with rich ornaments. All types of ceramics produced there can be purchased in Ferghana – painted bowls, pilaf dishes, pitchers, and other national tableware.
Among the most popular purchases for travelers are Ferghana sweets: raisins, dried apricots, and other dried fruits from Ferghana gardens, Eastern sweets, and nuts. Many take home Devzira rice and spices to prepare Uzbek dishes. You might also be interested in healing herbal teas and balms made from Ferghana herbs.