SPICES IN THE NATIONAL DISHES OF TURKISH CUISINE

The content and scope of the concepts of «spices» and «herbs» are determined in accordance with the recommendations of the Food and Drug Administration. The reasons for the growing demand for the export of spices and herbs from Turkey in the current conditions of the world economy are studied. Spices and herbs have been singled out as invariable ingredients of oriental cuisines in general and Turkish cuisine in particular. It is established that the Turkish national cuisine undoubtedly belongs to the oriental cuisines by its origin; however, the taste of the dishes is moderately spicy compared to other Eastern cuisines, which is influenced by Mediterranean cuisines, including Greek. The influence of spices and herbs on the formation of national dishes of Turkish cuisine over the centuries (lentil soup, chifbas, milk soup «Tarkhana», kokorech, sudzuk, imam bayaldi), as well as their benefits for human health have been studied. The properties of the most used classic and local spices and herbs of Turkish cuisine are analyzed. The role of spices and herbs used to enhance the taste of dishes in Turkish national dishes, which is an excellent source of polyphenols and cooking technology on fire or in a microwave oven, which increases the antioxidant potential due to the addi-tional release of polyphenols during heat treatment, as dry heating (which is not typical for Turkish national cuisine), frying and grilling processes, on the contrary, reduce their antioxidant properties and lead to loss of nutrients. The national dishes of Turkish cuisine are considered for the content of spices and condiments as invariable components of oriental cuisines used, it is determined that such dishes as shifa chorbasy, kokorech, imam bayaldi have a high content of polyphenols, which has a positive effect on human health.