The tour starts at the House of the Blackheads, where your guide will introduce you to Riga Black Balsam, Latvia's most iconic drink and a good way to understand what Latvian food culture is really about before you've even reached the market.
From there you walk to the Riga Central Market, housed in five massive German Zeppelin hangars that have dominated the southern edge of the Old Town since the 1930s. It is the largest market in the Baltic States and one of the largest covered markets in Europe.
Over two hours, your local guide walks you through the different pavilions, stopping to taste and learn as you go. Fresh and smoked fish, artisanal meats, aged dairy, pickled vegetables, dark rye bread, seasonal berries and more. More than 20 tastings in total, each one chosen to give you a genuine cross-section of what Latvians actually eat. Your guide will tell you where each product comes from, how it is made, and why it matters to the people who grew up eating it.
The market is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the hangars themselves have a history worth knowing. Your guide will cover both, weaving the stories of the building and the culture together as you move through it.
Important: !!! OUR MEETING POINT IS OLD TOWN, HOUSE OF BLACK HEADS (Ratslaukums 7)!!! Please note that traditional Latvian food is quite heavily built around meat, fish and dairy. This tour is not well suited for vegans or vegetarians, and we recommend keeping that in mind before booking.
The group is kept small, with a maximum of 20 people. From 10 participants onwards, your guide uses a microphone and everyone gets an audio receiver, so you catch every word without having to crowd around.
