A Taste of Sheki: Halva, Tea and Local Food
Sheki is famous for its sweets, tea culture and regional cooking. Here is how we approach a relaxed food day in the Silk Road town.
Sheki sits in the green foothills of the Greater Caucasus, about 300 km from Baku. For centuries it was a stop on the caravan routes, and it still feels like a town built around trade, craft and hospitality.
What to eat
Piti is the dish Sheki is known for: lamb, chickpeas and chestnuts slow-cooked in an individual clay pot. It is eaten in two stages, first the broth with bread, then the rest. Plan it as your main meal of the day.
Sheki halva is nothing like the halva you may know: thin layers of rice-flour lattice filled with nuts and soaked in syrup. Shops near the palace make it daily, and it travels well if you want to take some home.
Tea comes with everything, usually with jam or sweets on the side.
Between meals
The Palace of the Sheki Khans is the highlight: a small summer palace with painted walls and shebeke, windows of wooden lattice and coloured glass assembled without nails or glue. Nearby, the old caravanserai is still in use, and the bazaar is a good place to pick up sweets and spices.
Planning the day
The drive is about 4.5 to 5 hours each way, so a day trip from Baku is long. We start early, stop at the Juma Mosque in Shamakhi on the way, and keep one proper meal plus quick tastings so there is time to see the town. If you prefer less driving, ask us about staying overnight in Sheki.
See the Sheki Tour for the full itinerary.
