gluten free food in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

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travel2cool
travel2cool

Dear travellers,

As I am intolerant to gluten, (no wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt etc…). I know the diet of these countries is going to make it hard for me to find the right food.

I read that noodles and bread make the major part of their diet. Are these made from wheat all the time? The problem will be even bigger in the Pamirs and in remote areas especially when staying in yurts. Can someone tell me if there will be anything that is gluten-free apart from milk, tea and yoghurt please?

Is rice rarely eaten, making noodles and bread much more popular in this part of the world? I know I might need to carry some foods with me especially when trekking and staying in remote places but I can’t stock up for 2 months as I’ll be backpacking and will have a sleeping back to carry too. Can anyone who has been there give me a clearer picture of the food there please?

Thanking you

Travel2cool

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swespi
swespi

Hello there

Im in Kyrgyzstan since a coulpe of month and i was looking for gluten free products in shops... i didnt see any at all. In general bread (and many snaks on the street are maid of pastry) and noodels is very often eaten, but one national dish is plov and it contains only rice, meat an vegetables. In summer you will find lots of fruits like apricots, berries, aples etc. what you also can do is buying rice-nodles in shops which might someone can cook for you. In Bishkek it will be no problem to find also other food like chineese which will have also glueten-free meals... i dont know if my information helps you.

Have a good trip!

Sonja

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travel2cool
travel2cool

thanks a lot Sonja!

Do you know if meat is quite safe, however, especially when in the middle of nowhere? And what about salads? In general, I stay away from uncooked vegetables and ice when in third world Asia. Have you eaten salads whilst there? And where you ok?

cheers and enjoy it! Wow long stay there!

happy travels!

travel2cool

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swespi
swespi

Dont worry - you can eat every thing also salads and uncooked food (i eat it a lot!! :). You also can drink the wather without problems from tap its save and in the natur they will tell you where it is okey to drink, mostly spring-water. Meat also is mostly very fresh and save. I only had problems once with dried apricot, i dont know what it exactly was but i felt sick for one day.

Good trip!

S

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travel2cool
travel2cool

thanks a lot! What great news! But apricots... wow .. sick on apricots.... I was kinda relying on them really when there's nothing suitable for me to eat and especially when trekking.... wow!!

thanks again!

travel2cool

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christopherculver
christopherculver

I wouldn't recommend drinking tap water in Tajikistan. Even locals boil it, and every few summers there are cases of typhoid. If you need water in TAJ, you can ask any restaurant or cafe to fill your water bottle with kipitok (water boiled for a long time).

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tuintje
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