In today's world, Khachapuri is a topic of constant debate and analysis. Whether due to its impact on society, its relevance in history, its influence on culture or its importance in the scientific field, Khachapuri occupies a prominent place on the discussion agenda. From ancient times to the present, Khachapuri has aroused the interest and curiosity of humanity, generating deep reflections and provoking incessant research. In this article, we will explore various aspects of Khachapuri, unraveling its many facets and its meaning in the current context.
Mingrelian khachapuri, one of many regional varieties of the dish | |
| Type | Pie |
|---|---|
| Course | Pastry / filled pastry |
| Place of origin | Georgia |
| Region or state | South Caucasus |
| Serving temperature | hot |
| Main ingredients | Cheese, eggs, flour |
| Variations | open, closed |
Khachapuri (Georgian: ხაჭაპური, romanized: khach'ap'uri [ˈχatʃʼapʼuɾi] ⓘ from ხაჭო khachʼo [ˈχat͡ʃʼo] 'curd' + პური pʼuri [ˈpʼuri] 'bread') is a traditional Georgian dish of cheese-filled bread. The bread is leavened and allowed to rise, molded into various shapes, and then filled in the center with a mixture of cheese (fresh or aged, most commonly, specialized khachapuri cheese), and sometimes eggs or other ingredients.[1]
It is popular in Georgia, both in restaurants and as street food. As a Georgian staple food, the price of making khachapuri is used as a measure of inflation in different Georgian cities by the "khachapuri index", developed by the International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University.[2][3] It is Georgia's national dish, included in the list of the intangible cultural heritage of Georgia.[4][5] On the behalf and initiative of the Gastronomic Association of Georgia, the 27th of February was announced as National Khachapuri Day, to celebrate Georgia's signature pastry as well as to promote its recognition internationally. The khachapuri is served hot from the oven, otherwise it loses the taste of its unique cheese mixture and becomes bitter.
"ხაჭო" is perhaps borrowed into Georgian from Abkhazian ахырҵәы (a-xərcʷʼə́, "sour milk").[6] პური is from Ancient Greek πυρός (purós, "wheat").[7]
Specialists are divided regarding the chronology of khachapuri. According to Darra Goldstein, who wrote the book The Georgian Feast about the dish, khachapuri probably dates back to the 12th century when Georgia experienced a period of renaissance, but its specific root remains unclear.[8] Dali Tsatava, former professor at the Georgian Culinary Academy, suggested that khachapuri could be a "cousin of the pizza" as the concept of the dish might have been brought by Roman soldiers who crossed Europe, well before the addition of tomatoes in the 16th century.[9]

There are several distinctive types of khachapuri from different regions of Georgia:[10]
Khachapuri is popular in the post-Soviet states, including Russia.[12][13] It was reported that 175,000 khachapuris were consumed during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.[14] Khachapuri is a popular street food in Armenia, where it is widely served in restaurants and school cafeterias.[15] It has become increasingly popular as a brunch food in Israel, where it was brought over by Georgian Jews[16] and is spreading to other parts of the world, like the United States.[17]
One of the indispensable dishes of a celebratory meal in Georgia, khachapuri, has become very popular in Russia as well.