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Borş, Borsch and the Souring Problem

Borș

Specialised

⚠⚠ THE SAME WORD, THREE DIFFERENT THINGS. (1) Romanian and Moldovan BORŞ is a SOURING AGENT — wheat bran fermented in water — used to sour a soup, and "ciorbă de borş" means a soup soured with it. (2) Ukrainian and Russian BORSCH/БОРЩ is a BEET SOUP, a finished dish. (3) Polish BARSZCZ is a beet or soured-rye broth again different. Moldova has BOTH senses in daily use because it has both traditions. They are stored as distinct concepts and never merged on the strength of the shared name.

Atlas — where and when

Communities and languages

Languages: Romanian, Ukrainian

What is recorded

  • Romanian and Moldovan borş denotes a fermented wheat-bran souring agent; Ukrainian and Russian borsch denotes a beet soup; Polish barszcz denotes a third preparation again. Both of the first two senses are in current use in Moldova. They are stored as distinct concepts and are never merged on the strength of the shared name. documented

Related foodways

This foodway relates to

  • related to Polish Foodways documented

    Polish barszcz is a third sense again.

  • related to Ukrainian Foodways documented

    Ukrainian borsch is a beet soup; Moldovan borş is a souring agent. Same word, different concept, both current in Moldova.

Recipes

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