The Disturbing Truth Of Lithuania's Cold Beetroot Soup (Šaltibarščiai)

If you’re a tourist or a foreigner that has spent more than two days in Lithuania, you’ll likely have been informed about the need to try the country’s famous cold beetroot soup, which the Lithuanian’s call šaltibarščiai. But how unique is it to Lithuania?
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Sources and references:
www.bicheli.com/cuisine/aukst-...
www.govilnius.lt/pink-soup-fe...
www.tasteatlas.com/saltibarsc...
lithuania.travel/en/news/auks...
thenorthernvox.com/lithuanian...
spoki.lv/tribine/Ka-radas-auk...
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[@LithuaniaExplained]

Just to clarify the thumbnail image: I’m not saying that šaltibarščiai isn’t Lithuanian. It’s that the specific image used is the search result for auksta zupa.

[@fidenemini111]

I had no doubt about that from the very beginning😁. Great content as always!

[@UhOhUmm]

Strange take. It's like saying that pierogi is not Polish, because there are dumplings in China. Or BBQ can't be Texan, because other countries smoke meat.

[@manometras]

All these areas had been called Lithuania for some time in history. ;)

[@anzelmasmatutis2500]

Well, Lithuanians with Belarusians for centuries lived together in same country. No wonder they share some dishes.

[@RichieLarpa]

And vocabulary as well: LITHUANIAN: bulvė BELARUSIAN: бульба (bul'ba) KASHUBIAN: bùlwa

[@tonymakaroni2898]

@@RichieLarpa How is that similar?

[@eruno_]

I heard Latvians put "doctors sausage" directly into their cold soup, to any Lithuanian it sounds absolutely wild and nearly blasphemous.

[@gytisp5688]

abomination

[@RR-jz2up]

Sausage is added by people on budget. Real "aukstā zupa" enjoyers add smoked meat.

[@eruno_]

@@RR-jz2up Lithuanians don't put any meat in it so it's definitely big difference between the two dishes.

[@fidenemini111]

@@eruno_ It's like Russian Okroshka then.

[@eruno_]

@@sxnap3480 I was just pointing out that Lithuanian version is different from Latvian. ☺️

[@yessuz]

And in Poland it is called "Hlodnik Litevwski" meaning "Lithuanian Chlodnik". It is Lithuanian stuff adopted in others ;)

[@cliffarroyo9554]

It's very popular in Poland too, but only in warmer weather. It's called chłodnik litewski (Lithuanian cold-soup).

[@Mendogology]

You have pizza over all the world, but nobody doubts that it's originated in Italy. Same with the could Lithuanian Soup

[@vytautassulcas6494]

Like everyone knows that spagheti are originated from .... china

[@Mendogology]

@@vytautassulcas6494 ah yes, the noodles :D

[@l.al.y5604]

Pizza actually originated in China but like you say, it's all about Italy lol!

[@jivkoyanchev1998]

I don't think that the pink soup is world famous. I mean, probably the tourists that visit Lithiania know about it, but except them, probably few people know about it.

[@AbsentasLT]

you're on thin ice my friend 😑😁

[@Middlefinger_Michael]

:))

[@cuqiiu]

šaltibarščiai run through my veins

[@Bakon65]

Even "if" Pink Soup is not originally Lithuanian. It has formed the a part of the national fabric and backbone that is similar to though not as famous as the Japanese Ramen dishes with many different variations which originates from Chinese immigrants or Pasta in Italy.

[@arturspaparde1875]

I am a Latvian who lives now in Lithuania and could say that the taste and making of this super tasty soup is almost the same. For example, in the Latvian recipe (in my family) ingredients are marinated beetroot, fresh cucumbers, fresh red radish, boiled egg, dills, and green onions, as base kefir. In Latvia, typical kefir is 2% fat so we add a spoon of Sauer cream, typically 18% fat, which is leaner than a typical Grietine (Sauer cream) in Lithuania. For a more flavoured taste one teaspoon of strong mustard paste, salt, and pepper. You eat with boiled potatoes on a side. Good appetite! PS: Never tasted cold soup with "Doctor" sausage, so can't say that it is a typical thing for Latvian cold soup.

[@jjanderson1884]

Very strange video.. Of course nations are not isolated and nabour countries has a lot of similar recipes. Although it's obvious that this is the most popular soup in Lithuania and it's so for a reason. No need to creat "controversy" without any proof.

[@ASAS-dn4ve]

Usually in summer we have +20...+25 and some rain. There are few hot days, about +30. Only then one can understand true value of saltibarsciai. These days we usually eat saltibarsciai, or milk with bread (with berries and honey) or lasiniai with slightly marinated cucumber. Anything else one can't make nor swallow. In my family saltibarsciai can be without beat, but not without cucumber and dill. Caraites or Tatars brought cucumbers to Lithuania, Jews made them very popular.

[@dhiyanaabdulla5441]

This soup spread when polish lithuanian commonwealth exists

[@Ignash]

Yes, also this soup is mainly only found in northern parts in Belarus, not all around Belarus.

[@elenakiseleva905]

А носочки-то великолепны!!!!

[@gedog77]

Oh dear, fighting words…. You know they have Maple trees in Lithuania, and they make tree syrup from maple and birch trees? And they were doing that before Canada was a country? Let’s just explore your evidence a bit. The Polish call the soup Lithuanian cold soup. The Latvians refer to Aukstai or Aukštai, which is the northern region of Lithuania and the southern region of Latvia excluding the ethnically specific žemaitia, or western region (samogitian). So that’s direct or indirect reference to Lithuania or Lithuanian land in both names. Халаднік seems to translate to cold or cooler. So to be determined there. Check out Balta Mišraine for one that doesn’t seem to come from Lithuania.

[@LithuaniaExplained]

I mean, if this channel were “Canada Explained” and that’s the story behind maple syrup then I would probably make the exact same video trying to dig into its origin but stating that Canada is the country most associated with it and most proud of it 😁

[@gedog77]

@@LithuaniaExplained and I think you’ve nailed the whole pink soup thing there. Other people do it but only one people obsess about it.

[@manometras]

Auksta means šaltoji in Latvian. It is similar to the Lithuanian words aušti (become colder) and aušinti (to make colder). Aukštas or aukšta is augsts or augsta in Latvian.

[@iclicklike3397]

@@gedog77 there is a reason for it. Look up what was happening to Lithuania 16th-20th centuries.

[@RichieLarpa]

Many things that are popular or regular in some form, share a totally different root/origin and people should not be too shocked about that, as it is totally normal. There is "šaltibarščiai" that comes from the East Slavic countries, famous Italian "spaghetti", "tagliatelle" or "ravioli" might have came from Asia or our beloved and traditional Czech "guláš" and "klobása" came from Hungary. Also the languages have many interesting secrets...once I have found out that Lithuanian "parduoti" sounds "pretty Slavic", since in Czech, we say "prodat", but it is far from truth, because according to sources, it came from Proto-Indo-European. Sometimes, simple coincidence can aid into language learning, but it is good to always double check the etymology of some words, in order to be even smarter and more cautious. This all means that we should not look too much on where it came from, but rather on how it is doing now, since we live now, not in the past. P. S.: Congratulations for ten thousand subscribers!

[@rutabudrikaite8033]

I will tell you another "secret" about Lithuanian language: it is one of the Languages used to reconstruct Proto-Indo-European language by linguists, because it is the most archaic Indo-European language spoken today. So almost all languages in Europe are conected and developed from one and iti is not coincidence at all that Chech and Lithuanian has similar words, if you look you will find even more.

[@vytautassulcas6494]

I can argue about Borshch being slavic. Barštis in Lithuanian is Heracleum(lat), in slavic - Borshchevik(борщевик), where "vik" is suffix. So it means slavs have a name of plant which comes from dish? Every linguist-anthropologist will say its impossible. In Lithuanian "barščiai" is a soup from any of Heracleum/barštis plants - its homogenic, natural phenomena

[@RichieLarpa]

@@rutabudrikaite8033 I do not have to look, I study the language in general and I see it quite often.

[@rutabudrikaite8033]

@@RichieLarpa Well, good for you, that you study and don't need anything to look up. When I study I look up and check up everything. Probably we are using different techniques :D

[@RichieLarpa]

@@rutabudrikaite8033 I have not said that I do not to have to search for things, but some things are realized almost naturally, while doing an ordinary language learning routine. What are your methods, if I can ask?

[@erik7999]

There isn't enough time in the world to go over every similarity we have with our neighbouring countries. Where I currently live, my house is entirely Latvian, I am the only Lithuanian here and in all my years abroad I've never felt more at home because of just how much in common we have and food is part of that. Personally I don't care on which patch of land this or that dish was first made. Šaltibarščiai slaps hard regardless. 😋

[@konstantinasnavardauskas4495]

You can’t find everything googling around in English ;) Did you know that the second most popular way to make it would be a white version with radishes instead of the beetroot.

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Ooo interesting!

[@iclicklike3397]

Apparently it was already mentioned since 1850sh in a Lithuanian cookbook. Even Russians seem to agree on it, so it probably would be correct to attribute it to Lithuanian dishes. Keep in mind, there was a deliberate russification of people in the Russian empire. That could be the reason for lack of records on Lithuania.

[@algieturas612]

It was the second food I had in LIETUVA. The first was Cepelinai

[@Ignash]

We also love Kugelis, but it is clearly a Jewish dish.

[@mitina2191]

JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS SIMILAR DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE SAME!!!!!!!

[@dd-oe8zv]

Blasphemy. Who paid you off 11!1!!

[@IrmanGrey]

They have Saltibarsciai buffet??? My god, I would stay there for the whole day..... :|

[@eirikaseirikas4388]

Do you like "Saltibarsciai"? 😸

[@Paul_Ironwolf]

I'm a Lithuanian and i personally love it, regardless if its unique to us or not, i don't think i had even 3 months in my adult life without eating it at least once and i'm 40.

[@tom4stream]

Dear LitEx, you have an undusputedly Canadian things like Tim Hurton's and mapple syrup. Can we please keep our "šaltibarščiai" 😀 ?

[@lucianaborgo9831]

Is Awesome

[@NeritaPokvytyte]

I hope the author of the video feels very good now, revealing what is already so obvious. Now please make the video, where potatoes come from Latin America and Pasta from China. We all will be so shocked.

[@LithuaniaExplained]

😂

[@fidenemini111]

Poles know better! Belorussians however borrowed a lot of Polish words, did not add "Litewski" because...they once were part of Lithuania. We also do not call it Lietuviški šaltibarščiai for the same obvious reason. I eat no other soup during Summer season and never got bored😁. Great research!👍

[@NeritaPokvytyte]

All of this could be explained in the nicer way. It seems a very negative attitude. We never told that we own the soup and we know well that the neighbours are making it too (thanks god). Although you say all the right information, it really sounds that, for some reason Lithuanians are stubborn to admit all the other versions of our dear neighbours.

[@manometras]

It’s a good dish. I love it.

[@botronas6039]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@xeroxite]

😲

[@MrSovetsky]

At least the recipe has evolved organically, unlike Pattaya. Yes Latvians and Lithuanians share this dish, but only our southern brethren made a big deal out of it. We need a P.R. campaign dedicated to hot boiled potatoes, picked herring, marinated onions and cottage cheese salad. Before anyone else will.

[@LithuaniaExplained]

I think I saw a Latvian tourism video that was all about potatoes 🥔

[@petkus12]

@@LithuaniaExplained God, I love potato pancakes with salmon.

[@onelungg]

you cheeky clickbaiter :)

[@lithuanian_guy]

Since I dont agree fighting over food - i propose we share it. Multiple countries can have same food as traditional right? C`mon... its a food - we suppose to share it 😄

[@michail_zheleznov]

Every country, except Russia. They do not deserve anything. Слава Україні!

[@povilzem]

Nothing wrong with shared heritage. It reminds that in the end, we're not that different from our neighbours.

[@suevialania]

💚❤️🇵🇹👍🏻🇱🇹

[@l.al.y5604]

It originated in baltics. Simple as that

[@GuardianI01.]

10 thousand subs🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@ZorroComputers]

We never claim who's this soup is. We eat it.

[@petkus12]

Im an Aukstā zupa enjoyer myself

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Thank you!!! 🥣

[@DS.J]

Origin of Chłodnik [Litewski]/Šaltibarščiai is apparently the modern day region of Podlaskie around Bialystok and surrounding areas in North East Poland. Historically used to be dominated by ethnic Lithuanians even though the modern concept of ethnicity may be difficult to apply to Poland/Lithuania of those days. It basically was a single country and arguably a single nation. So geographically, from the current geographical point of view at least, it is a "Polish" dish whereas ethnically and culturally there is a strong case for it to be considered "Lithuanian". In reality I think it is both: Polish-Lithuanian. Just like in the good old days of the Commonwealth. That's where Belarus and Latvia come into play. Simply because they were part of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. It's just not the version of culinary history Latvians and Belarusians would like to share with the world, which is why you probably couldn't find much information on the origin of Chłodnik/Šaltibarščiai on Latvian or Belarusian sources :)

[@karkevicius]

Soo, made by Lithuanians, for Lithuanians lmao

[@QuadrumLTU]

saltibarsciai is lithuanian and is made with "rugpienis" and not kefyr or anything else and with some dill beetrots cucumbers or a pickles some green onion and some potatoes on the side this is true lithuanian cold borsch it originated from rugpienis it's a milk that is kinda spoiled but super tasty and the cold borsch was made so that you could not just drink rugpienis but also eat something and not get too hot in the summer And the it spread to poland latvia and mostly belarus cuz it was first made when it was times of the LDK(Grand Duchy of Lithuania) and it covered a lot you know.

[@gedastankoviciute6580]

It was made with diluted sour cream, not rūgpienis

[@QuadrumLTU]

@@gedastankoviciute6580 no it was made with rūgpienis brangioji o ne su grietinėle kažkokia

[@gedastankoviciute6580]

@@QuadrumLTU su skiesta grietine, o ne grietinėle, rūgpienis neduoda homogeniškos masės, grietinę nurodo išlikę senieji receptai, ir mūsų giminėj taip darydavom ir kartais darom.

[@QuadrumLTU]

@@gedastankoviciute6580 nu nžn kas ten pas jus gininėj per "šefai" bet šaltibarščiai gaminami su rūgpieniu ir grietine o ne iš kažkokios tai "Skiestos Grietinės" žinokit šitą nusišnekėjimą pirmą kartą girdžiu dar gali būti vietoj rūgpienio kefyras bet jokiu būdu ne Skiesta Grietinė kažkokia Ponia Geda Stankovičiūte

[@Daumantas2314]

The name is Lithuanian😂

[@b1lls4m3]

nu ka broliuk, prisibazarinsi

[@sazarkanas5921]

fun fact only Lithuanians call it borscht all other call it just cold soup

[@RichieLarpa]

I am not sure, Russians call it "холодный борщ", but I might be wrong...

[@manometras]

Lithuanians call it the cold beetroot soup, and Lithuanians call it šaltibarščiai (in case it’s the cold soup) or simply barščiai (if it is hot), not borsht (which is an English try to tell out the Slavic word for it). And the Slavic word itself is borshch.

[@vytautassulcas6494]

@@manometras I can argue about Borshch being slavic. Barštis in Lithuanian is Heracleum(lat), in slavic - Borshchevik(борщевик), where "vik" is suffix. So it means slavs have a name of plant which comes from dish? Every linguist-anthropologist will say its impossible. In Lithuanian "barščiai" is a soup from any of Heracleum/barštis plants - its homogenic, natural phenomena

[@SloveLDK]

Šaltibarščiai is Lithuanian. It’s practically impossible that Belarus (Russified Lithuanian territory) or Poland (failed experiment) ever came up with anything good and I guarantee that Latvias version of the dish was imported from Lithuania.

[@manometras]

Nowadays, Belarusians take everything that Lithuanians used to eat and do for decennials. Or.. Lithuanians just did not care of and did not know nearly anything about Belarusians for all those decennials or a hundred years.

[@4rn0ld13]

It's just a hustle I reckon. Lietuviai don't have a strong internationally oriented culture like for example the US/Japan/Korea does. All these 3 countries have their own media products that are geared toward their internal market but fundamentally appeal to an international audience (think k-pop, anime, hollywood). Lietuva has a small population (not a lot of people to create for, brain drain, weak economy etc.) and considering our history, we've liquidated our upper class almost periodically (those who could pull off production projects of such a scale). We have a weak culture, or rather weakened by the waves of time, imposed religion, language, emotional attitude. This borsch marketing stunt is just an attempt to find something of our own, although it's a rather low hanging fruit... I hope we can find ourselves again.

[@LithuaniaExplained]

I’ve been thinking about cultural diplomacy and how Lithuania has a generally small footprint. Thailand even has a program that helps Americans set up authentic Thai restaurants for this purpose. South Korea and kpop/kdrama too. It would be interesting to see what Lithuania would do to boost their cultural footprint around the world :)

[@iclicklike3397]

We did not liquidate our upper class. It was Polish and then Russians that were slowly eroding the Lithuanian heritage. Although the commonwealth thing was a necessity, it also had a negative impact. That is one of the reasons Romuva is a thing I guess. It's an attempt to dig up the old erased ways.

[@erikasolnc]

tbh cepelinai is also not lithuanian.

[@erikasolnc]

@@Oberschutzee Don't look at Wikipedia. It's origin is probably from Germany judging by name "Zeppelin". It's made from potato. Lithuanians didn't really explore America like other countries did. I highly doubt that cepelinai are Lithuanian in origin. But I might be wrong too.

[@vytautassulcas6494]

@@erikasolnc No way. Original name of this dish is Didžkukuliai, and it got second name Cepelinai after Zeppelin made their aircraft because oh shape similarity

[@vytautaszemelis4403]

​@@erikasolncDidžkukuliai по литовски, а цепелинами называем из за их формы и это чисто литовское блюдо. Ваши фантазии себе придержите..