Czernina

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Czernina (from the Polish word czarny - black; sometimes also Czarnina or Czarna polewka) is a Polish soup made of duck's blood and clear poultry broth. Better known as Duck Blood Soup.

Generally the sweet and sour taste of the soup is an effect of addition of sugar and vinegar. However, there are hundreds of recipes popular in different parts of Poland. Among the ingredients used are plum or pear syrup, dried pears, plums or cherries, apple vinegar and honey. Like most Polish soups, czernina is usually served with fine noodles, macaroni or boiled potatoes.

Until the 19th century czernina was also a symbol in the Polish culture. It was served to the young men applying for the hand of their beloved ones when the parents rejected their proposal. It is a plot element in Pan Tadeusz, a famous Polish poem by Adam Mickiewicz.

These days, it is a regional dish in Kaszuby and Poznań.

There is a book