Latvia is known for its high-quality, locally sourced, and seasonal ingredients, as well as its talented chefs and brewers. This is evident in the growing popularity of Riga as a destination for gourmet holidays and the city’s spring and autumn restaurant weeks, which are highly anticipated events.
Latvian cuisine is centered around locally sourced agricultural products, and meat is a major component of main dishes. Fish is also a popular choice due to Latvia’s location on the Baltic Sea. The pronounced four seasons in Latvia result in a cuisine that is heavily influenced by the seasons, with each season having its own unique dishes and products.
If you are shopping for food, you can expect a wide variety of local goods such as cheese, fish, smoked meat, honey, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other treats. Most of the products available at markets are organic – the country’s residents are particularly fond of growing their own food, and the supply chain from the field to the marketplace is rather short in Latvia.