Riga is located in the north of Europe, so visitors may experience real snowy winter here, which has its undeniable charm. Nevertheless, it took its toll on residents of Latvia over the centuries. Quite a harsh climate had a substantial impact on the traditional cuisine – due to a short vegetation period the traditional Latvian diet is poor in vegetables and fruits, but rich in fish and flour. The Latvians use a lot of fish and seafood in their cuisine, they are served in various forms, accompanied by pickled cucumber or cabbage. Noodles and dumplings, as well as dairy products are also very popular. Fruits are rare and usually served for dessert. Among the most popular there are blueberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants and pears, which are used for preparing jellies and compotes.
