People prepare traditional food to celebrate the Nowruz festival in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, March 20, 2023. Regarded as the beginning of a New Year and one of the most important festivals in Central Asian countries, Nowruz marks the first day of spring. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Photo by Roman/Xinhua)

People display traditional food in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, April 13, 2019. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

Women prepare food to celebrate Nowruz festival in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, March 21, 2015. Regarded as the beginning of a New Year and one of the most important festivals in Central Asian countries, Nowruz marks the first day of spring. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Xinhua/Lu Jingli)

This photo taken on June 14, 2025 shows boortsog, a type of fluffy fried cookie, in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Xinhua/Bi Xiaoyang)

This photo taken on Nov. 28, 2023 shows naan bread at an agricultural exhibition in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

A chef cooks pilaf at the Central Asian Pilaf Centre in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, Sept. 14, 2023. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)

Cooks make naan bread in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, Aug. 27, 2024. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

This photo taken on June 14, 2025 shows a meat platter in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Xinhua/Lai Xiangdong)

A staff member transports pomegranate juice in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, Sept. 14, 2023. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

A vendor prepares pilaf in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on May 1, 2025. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Xinhua/Li Renzi)

This photo taken on Aug. 27, 2024 shows pilaf in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

A vendor sells nuts and dried fruits in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, June 10, 2019. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Xinhua/Shadati)

This photo taken on July 3, 2024 shows vegetables and spice sold at a bazaar in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. With fragrant baked naan bread, aromatic pilaf, rich and chewy horse sausage, sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables, and uniquely flavored dairy products, the cuisine of the five Central Asian countries embodies the traditional diet of nomadic peoples and the spice heritage of the Silk Road, showcasing the richness of intercultural culinary exchanges. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)