• Romanians love drinking coffee. And, they love to drink coffee before their meals. I didn’t find this habit in other places I have lived in. If I drink tea or coffee before meals, my appetite vanishes.
• Not many Romanians prefer spicy food but there are many who love a big green chilly (called Arde Iute in Romania) with their soup. Once during a regional visit, my host finished off a big chilly with his soup. I couldn’t have the chilly after the first bite. Romania has a large variety of delicious soups. They are called Ciorba (from Arabic word Shorba, which is used in India, too).

• Romanians have a lot of meat dishes but lamb is not the preferred meat. However, it is customary to eat lamb dishes in Easter. Again, a practice I didn’t see in places where I have lived earlier.
• Every region of Romania has its own version of Tuica and Palinka - two traditional alcoholic drinks made from fruits. They are the most common gifts I receive when visiting Romanian regions.
• Romanians love their Covrigi, which are similar to pretzels. Even airports and shopping malls have Covirigi carts.

Image source: bucataras.ro; tentacionesenlamesa.com