Research
Physico-Chemical and Nutritional Characteristics of Soriz Flour (Sorghum Oryzoidum)
The assortment of gluten-free flours in the Republic of Moldova is very small, and the properties of these flours are not sufficiently studied. Sorghum (Sorghum Oryzoidum) is a relatively new cereal, the industrial production of which has recently begun, and the use of sorghum and derivatives, especially flour, are current. The purpose of this study is to determine the chemical composition and nutritional value of sorghum flour. This would have a direct impact on human well-being, contribute to the development of novel foods and reduce food insecurity in the Republic of Moldova, including people with gluten-related disorders. Physico-chemical methods were used to determine the chemical composition and nutritional aspects of the flour. The obtained results showed that the chemical composition of soriz flour is complex and similar to cereal flours, with a predominance of carbohydrates, followed by proteins, lipids etc.
Cultural and Technological Retrospectives of the Coliva in the Republic of Moldova
Food traditions were created and shaped by the contacts between cultures that met, overlapped and mixed in a history made up of habits, knowledge, specificities, shared experiences that build the personal and collective identity of each people and from which it nourishes the feeling of "pride of belonging". Thus, traditional foods play an important role in local identity, consumer behavior, the transfer of cultural heritage for future generations and the interaction of this heritage with the rest of the world. Coliva is a traditional dish based on boiled wheat that is used liturgically in the Eastern Orthodox Church for commemorations of the dead. The purpose of this paper is to capitalize on and promote the coliva as a traditional culinary product of the Republic of Moldova and as a tool for communicating the identity values of a people. Over time, the coliva has become the expression of culture, the object and subject of cultural change, a condensate of social, environmental, historical and religious values.
