Greece and Turkey Clash Over Tripe Soup's True Culinary Roots
A fresh culinary dispute has flared up between Greece and Turkey—this time over tripe soup. The row centres on who can claim ownership of the dish, known as patsa in Greece and iskembe in Turkey. Both nations insist the soup is a cornerstone of their food heritage. Dimitris Tsarouhas, a Greek restaurateur, has launched a campaign for UNESCO to recognise the Greek version of the soup. He argues that its roots trace back to ancient Greece, even citing Homer’s Odyssey as evidence. The move has sparked outrage in Turkey, where the dish holds equal cultural weight.
Turkish restaurateur Ali Turkmen dismissed the Greek claim outright. He insisted the soup has been a staple of Turkish cuisine for centuries. Turkish media outlets went further, accusing Greece of attempting to ‘appropriate’ a beloved national dish. The argument is the latest in a long line of disputes between the two countries over food and tradition. Yet some on both sides have urged a different approach. Instead of division, they suggest celebrating shared culinary history as a way to bring the nations closer.
The debate over tripe soup shows no signs of cooling. Greece’s push for UNESCO recognition has only deepened tensions with Turkey. For now, the dish remains a symbol of both rivalry and the tangled cultural ties between the two neighbours.
