| Gozinaki | |
| Country: | Georgia |
| Type: | Confectionery |
| Main Ingredient: | Nuts (usually walnuts), honey |
Gozinaki (Georgian: გოზინაყი gozinaq’i, in Georgian pronounced as /ɡozinaqʼi/) is a traditional Georgian confection made of caramelized nuts, usually walnuts, and fried in honey.[1] [2] [3] In the western Georgian provinces of Imereti and Racha, it was sometimes called "churchkhela", a name more commonly applied to walnuts sewn onto a string, dipped in thickened white grape juice and dried. In several of Georgia's rural areas, both walnuts and honey used to have sacral associations. According to a long-established tradition, Gozinaki is served at special occasions, and is a mandatory component of New Year's Eve[4] and Christmas celebrations.[5] [6]
Various condiments made with caramel-like products and seeds or nuts, covered with salt or sugarcoat, would be "kozinak" as well, according to the Russian definition.[7] The most common "kozinak" in Russia is made with peeled sunflower seeds and molasses. Sometimes, a sesame seed candy, similar to gozinak in consistency, would be a "kozinak" as well ("kozinak s kunzhutom")[8]
In Russian language, the "kozinak" spelling is preferred to the "gozinak(i)" ones.