Gornooryahovski sudzhuk is a traditional sausage made in Gorna Oryahovitsa. In 1538, Suleiman the Magnificent issued a decree granting his grand vizier Rüstem Pasha Opuković lands and taxes from the production of sudzhuk in this area.
These sausages were also known as sara and smarlama, but in the 1940s, they were promoted under the name Gornooryahovski sudzhuk on the Bulgarian market, where they became a highly requested product due to their distinctive flavor.
Gornooryahovski sudzhuk sausages are made with beef coming from healthy, well-fed animals aged 12 months or more with a high glycogen content that makes them juicy. The spicy flavor of Gornooryahovski sudzhuk results from a mixture of black pepper, cumin, and savory which are added to the meat based on a traditional recipe. Read more
The sausages are bent into a horseshoe shape and left to mature in drying rooms where their surface gets covered in a coat of white mold. This process is monitored by manufacturers because it is crucial to stop it in the moment when the sausages acquire their distinctive flavor and aroma.
The production of Gornooryahovski sudzhuk sausages is of great importance to the area due to a large number of consumers and the high sales price that lead to the area's economic growth and development.
