Although most people believe that the national language of Iran is Arabic, it is actually Persian, known by the locals as Farsi. The language originated from Middle Persian, which was used in the Sasanian Empire and is similar in grammar to other European languages. Persian is not only spoken in Iran, it is also used in Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
The country also recognizes seven other languages which are Azerbaijani, Kurdish, Lori, Mazandarani, Gilaki, Balochi, and Arabic. The use of all these languages came about from the unique combination of ethnic groups in Iran and can cause quite a bit of confusion.
Eating in Iran
Iranian food is a mix of Middle Eastern, Greek and Indian flavors. They have found a way to balance out the styles by offering more varied dishes than typical Greek food and by using fewer spices than traditional Indian cuisine. They are also on trend with the rest of the culinary world with their preference for fresh ingredients.
The people of Iran are big fans of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts. The proteins they regularly use are lamb, sheep and chicken, typically served alongside rice and a variety of flatbreads. The Iranian drink of choice is black tea, and lots o
Aversion to Alcohol?
Alcoholic beverages are illegal in Iran, and the only beers that you will find on restaurant menus are of the non-alcoholic variety. However, like other illegal things, the prohibition doesn’t mean that alcohol cannot be found in the country.
Private celebrations often offer partiers plenty of booze, the most prevalent is a type of homemade wine known as aragh saghi. It is basically moonshine made out of raisins. In general, the business of illegally smuggling alcohol into Iran, is a $700 million dollar industry per year.
The Iranian Jewels
The Treasury of National Jewels in Tehran is the home to some of the most precious and pricey jewelry in the entire world. The Imperial crown jewels include ornate crowns, 30 tiaras, jewel-encrusted swords and shields, exquisite aigrettes, bejeweled dining sets and specialty items like an actual golden globe with seas made of emeralds.
The items kept there are so valuable that they are used to this day as emergency backing for the Iranian currency and they have not been worn in public since the days of the Pahlavi dynasty before the revolution. Although, some of the items are on display in the Central Bank of Tehran and can be viewed.
Special Meaning
The word “Iran” in Persian actually means the “Land of the Aryans” AKA the Iranian people. The term “Aryan” was initially used by the Iranians to describe a specific ethnicity but has over time come to refer to the religious, cultural and linguistic attributes of the people who reside in Iran. The name replaced the name Persia, but many believe today that both names can be used.
The name of the capital city of Tehran also has a special meaning. Tehran literally means “warm mountain slope”. The name seems fitting when you take into account that the city is situated at the foot of a mountain and the high temperatures that often plague the capital, with the highest on record reaching a broiling 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius).