A large collection of various culinary traditions originating from a variety of cultures and geographic regions located in Asia, Near, Far and Middle East is commonly called oriental cuisine. The name comprises Chinese, Japanese, as well as Arab, Turkish, Indian cuisines. It is a must to remember that the dishes of numerous peoples inhabiting vast territories of Russia also fit the category of oriental cuisine. European traders have imported various spices coming from the Orient for centuries – some of them have been known in Europe since the ancient times.