Borș (bran) facts for kids
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| Type | Cereal |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Wheat bran |
Borș is a special ingredient and a type of sour soup from Romania and Moldova. It is famous for its tangy, refreshing taste. The word "borș" can mean two things. It can be a sour liquid used in cooking, or it can refer to the delicious sour soup itself.
What is Borș?
The Sour Liquid
The liquid borș is made by fermenting wheat or barley bran in water. Sometimes, people add sugar beet or a piece of bread to help the fermentation. This process creates a slightly yellowish, sour liquid. It's a bit like a natural vinegar.
This liquid is full of good things like lactic acid, which is also found in yogurt. It also has vitamins and minerals from the bran. Some people even drink it on its own because it's so refreshing. You can add fresh lovage leaves to the liquid for extra flavor.
The Sour Soup
Borș also refers to a type of sour soup, often called ciorbă in Romania. This soup usually gets its sour taste from the borș liquid. It's a very popular dish, especially in Romania and Moldova.
Borș vs. Borscht
The word borș sounds a lot like the Ukrainian word borshch or borscht. They share the same ancient root. However, they mean different things today. Traditional Ukrainian borscht is a soup made with beetroot. Romanians usually call this borș de sfeclă roșie, which means "red beetroot borș".
In Romania, people use the words ciorbă, borș, zeamă (juice), or acritură (sour stuff) almost the same way for sour soups. In the Moldavia region, where Romanians and Ukrainians lived close, borș often means any kind of sour soup.
Making Borș Soup
Romanian borș soups can be made with many different ingredients. They can include various vegetables and any kind of meat, even fish. A very common type is "Borș/ciorbă de perișoare", which is a soup with meatballs.
One special ingredient that is almost always used in Romanian borș soups is lovage leaves. Lovage has a very unique and strong flavor. It makes the soup smell and taste much better. It's a key part of the traditional borș flavor.
See also
In Spanish: Borș para niños
