Boasting one of the earliest-ever recognised civilised empires, it’s fair to say that Persians have been developing their food culture for a while now — some 7,000 years at the last count.
Arguably, Persia’s most glorious period in history can be traced back 2,500 years to the Achaemenid period, when Cyrus the Great took his people across eastern Europe, western and central Asia, as well as parts of the Mediterranean. Whilst the size and scale of the empire may have lessened, it’s influence hasn’t entirely waned, and Persian festivals are still celebrated in many countries along the old Silk Road, including Afghanistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Iraq and, of course, Iran.
