Sunflower

Sunflower oil is a fragrant symbol of Kuban. First introduced into the Kuban region in the 19th century, sunflower quickly became its agricultural staple and has retained this status ever since. Its oil, Russia’s most common vegetable variety, is obtained by cold-pressing and extraction, but the industrial product is very different from the artisanal ones. One of the brightest gastronomic experiences in the south is tasting homemade unrefined sunflower oil. Its diversity bears no description. One of the local know-how is pressing oil from roasted unrefined seeds. Sunflowers are also the main ingredient in sweets, such as halvas and kozinaks. The iconic product par excellence is roasted sunflower seeds, truly the Russian national snack.