The Country Food Similarity Index is a statistically-based attempt to quantify how similar the food in one country is relative to another. By comparing the weight of raw food ingredients used in each country, a score is assigned that reflects the degree of similarity between the respective countries. The methodology is exactly the same for each country studied.
The Most Similar Cuisines to Polish Food
Poland is located at the crossroads of Central Europe, and throughout its history, it has been influenced by its neighboring countries. Three of the five countries with the most similar food border the Baltic Sea. In addition, three of the five directly border Poland. They all have relatively cold climates.
- Czech Republic is located to the south of Poland. It is the only other Slavic country that borders Germany. Czech cuisine is known for its dumplings that are very similar to Polish pierogi. Both countries also use cabbage in various forms, such as sauerkraut and cabbage rolls. Pork and rye bread are also popular ingredients in these nations.
- Latvia and Poland have cuisines that share staples like potatoes, bread, soups, pickled vegetables, and hearty meats. Although Polish dishes may lean towards a wider array of dumplings and pastries. Both cuisines celebrate Eastern European heritage through comforting, flavorful dishes.
- Lithuania is located to the north of Poland. Both countries are predominately Catholic. When it comes to food, both nations offer a delightful array of dishes. For example, the Lithuanian kibinai is extremely similar to Poland’s famed pierogi. Furthermore, both countries also have a particular fondness for dairy products.
- Slovakia borders both Poland and the Czech Republic. As a result, it has similar food to these countries as well. These nations enjoy a variety of soups and stews that are perfect for warming up during the colder months, often enriched with sour cream or flavored with paprika. In addition, dumplings are central to both culinary traditions
- Finland is another country that borders the Baltic Sea on this list. Potatoes, carrots, and beets are staples in both diets, offering nourishment and versatility. Rye bread, another key ingredient, is popular in both regions. Fermentation, pickling, and curing are techniques widely used to extend the shelf life of vegetables, fish, and meats.
Related: The 10 Most Similar Countries to Poland
The Least Similar Cuisines to Polish Food
The five countries with the least similar food to Poland are located in Africa. The climate in these countries is also significantly warmer. This affects what type of crops are grown in these countries. Moreover, these countries are much less developed than Poland. Neither potatoes nor pork are commonly eaten in these countries.
- Chad is a landlocked country in the middle of Africa that is mostly Muslim. Sorghum and millet are the two most commonly consumed grains there. These crops are well adapted to the Sahel’s harsh climate. Beef is the most popular meat, but lamb meat is also often eaten there. One popular ingredient used in Chad is saka-saka, a mix of spinach and cassava leaves. Peanuts and sesame seeds are also commonly parts of their cuisine.
- South Sudan is to the west of the Central African Republic. It is another country where cassava is the staple food, however the country eats its share of sorghum as well. Porridge is one of the most popular dishes in the country. Unlike in Poland, beef is the most commonly consumed meat in the South Sudan.
- Central African Republic is another former French colony that is located to the south of Chad. Cassava and yam are two of the most commonly eaten staple ingredients in the country. Furthermore, taro and bananas make up a much greater share of the diet in Central African Republic than in Poland.
- Burundi is yet another French-speaking African country on this list. It is located in the tropical regions of Africa. Its diet is in large part based on cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, and bananas. Furthermore, in contrast to Poland, freshwater fish is the country’s biggest source of meat.
- Democratic Republic of Congo is mostly rainforest, so its climate is much hotter and humid than Poland’s. Cassava is the dominant staple food in the country, a food that many people in Poland have not eaten before. The most commonly eaten meat in Congo is fish, whereas pork and chicken are more popular in Poland. Furthermore, in contrast to Poland, their diet has little meat in it.
Related: The 10 Least Similar Countries to Poland
Full Food Similarity Ranking of Countries and Territories
Poland’s Most Common Food Ingredients
Protein: Pork, Chicken
Fruit: Apple, Watermelon
Vegetable: Cabbage, Tomato
Starch: Wheat, Potato
Primarily based on 2020 data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N.
6.) FINLAND does not border Poland, but, due to both of them bordering Russia, although Poland only borders an exclave of it, called Kaliningrad Oblast, as well the fact both countries were actually part of Russia in the past, to add to it the mention that Poland also not only borders Belarus (an almost exclusively Russian-speaking country) too, but is also Slavic as well, Finland’s cuisine has strong Slavic (although mostly Russian) influences, just like Poland. Both cuisines have simple yet flavorful dishes. Common ingredients include potatoes, cabbage, and beets. Classic Russian dishes like borscht and pelmeni, which, in turn, are extremely popular in Finland, are similar to Polish barszcz and pierogi, respectively. In addition, both nations love dairy products, such as yogurt, cheese and sour cream.
7.) ROMANIA is the only Romance-speaking country on this list. However, both countries have many aspects in common, especially culturally, despite speaking different languages, and that includes their cuisine. One popular dish in both countries is cabbage rolls. Romanian Sarmale features minced meat mixed with rice and spices, wrapped in pickled cabbage leaves. Furthermore, both countries tend to eat a lot of cheese as well.
6.) FINLAND does not border Poland, but, due to both of them bordering Russia, although Poland only borders an exclave of it, called Kaliningrad Oblast, as well the fact both countries were actually part of Russia in the past, to add to it the mention that Poland also not only borders Belarus (an almost exclusively Russian-speaking country) too, but is also Slavic as well, Finland’s cuisine has strong Slavic (although mostly Russian) influences, just like Poland. Both cuisines have simple yet flavorful dishes. Common ingredients include potatoes, cabbage, and beets. Classic Russian dishes like borscht and pelmeni, which, in turn, are extremely popular in Finland, are similar to Polish barszcz and pierogi, respectively. In addition, both nations love dairy products, such as yogurt, cheese and sour cream.
7.) ROMANIA is the only Romance-speaking country on this list. However, both countries have many aspects in common, especially culturally, despite speaking different languages, and that includes their cuisine. One popular dish in both countries is cabbage rolls. Romanian Sarmale features minced meat mixed with rice and spices, wrapped in pickled cabbage leaves. Furthermore, both countries tend to eat a lot of cheese as well. Conversely, due to recent immigration from neighboring Slavic post-Soviet countries, like Moldova (which, despite being extremely similar to Romania in many ways, it also shares several cultural traits with many post-Soviet Slavic countries, like Ukraine – which is its only formerly Soviet Slavic neighbor – and Russia – as it has made a strong cultural impact on the country itself, evident in its separatist region, called Transnistria) or Ukraine, as well as historical links with certain Catholic Central European countries like Hungary (which has made a strong cultural impact on Romania’s core region, Transylvania, as it actually used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as well as due to how many ethnic Hungarians still live there) or Germany (through historical immigration from the Rhineland region to Transylvania, as well from Swabia to Romanian Banat), Romanian cuisine, in turn, strongly resembles the Polish one.
8.) SLOVAKIA’s cuisine resembles both Czechia’s, and, in turn, Poland’s. Both Polish and Slovak cuisines make use of similar ingredients, such as potatoes, cabbage, pork, and various grains. Dairy plays a significant role in both diets. Sour cream is popular condiment in Poland and Slovakia. These ingredients have been staples in the region for a long time and are featured prominently in traditional dishes of both nations.
9.) LATVIA and Poland have cuisines that share staples like potatoes, bread, soups, pickled vegetables, and hearty meats. Although Polish dishes may lean towards a wider array of dumplings and pastries. Both cuisines celebrate Eastern European heritage through comforting, flavorful dishes.
10.) DENMARK has similar culture to Germany, despite being mostly a Scandinavian country. Thus, its cuisine shares many elements in common with Poland, due to the fact German cuisine itself resembles the Polish one, especially in the linguistically cultural border regions of Polabia and Lusatia, where most Sorbs (an ethnic group of Germany whose culture strikingly resembles Poland) live. Both countries border the Baltic Sea. Both countries eat roughly equal portions of potatoes and wheat products. In addition, Danish and Polish cuisines feature pickled vegetables as popular condiments. Sauerkraut is often served alongside their meat dishes. Both countries also have a tradition of open-faced sandwiches, sausages, potatoes, and delicious pastries. In addition, these countries tend to eat a lot of cheese. However, the Danish eat significantly less pork than Poles. Still, like Poland, Danish cuisine features a greater variety of seafood and fish, since most of its people live in close proximity to the coast.
11.) LITHUANIA is located to the north of Poland. Both countries are predominately Catholic. When it comes to food, both nations offer a delightful array of dishes. For example, the Lithuanian kibinai is extremely similar to Poland’s famed pierogi. Furthermore, both countries also have a particular fondness for dairy products.
12.) SWEDEN is yet another Scandinavian country on this list. Both countries border the Baltic Sea. In fact, Sweden is just across the Baltic Sea from Poland. As a result, both nations have a rich tradition of smoked and pickled fish. Rye bread is also popular in Sweden and Poland as well. Furthermore, both countries have a deep-rooted tradition of foraging for wild ingredients, like mushrooms and herbs. In addition, Sweden’s famed cabbage rolls (kåldolmar) are extremely similar to Polish goląbki.
1.) CZECH REPUBLIC is located to the south of Poland. It is the only other Slavic country that borders Germany. Czech cuisine is known for its dumplings that are very similar to Polish pierogi. Both countries also use cabbage in various forms, such as sauerkraut and cabbage rolls. Pork and rye bread are also popular ingredients in these nations.
2.) RUSSIA and Poland cuisines both have simple yet flavorful dishes. Common ingredients include potatoes, cabbage, and beets. Classic Russian dishes like borscht and pelmeni are similar to Polish barszcz and pierogi, respectively. In addition, both Slavic nations love dairy products, such as yogurt and sour cream.
3.) GERMANY and Poland both border the Baltic Sea. Over the centuries, there has been a great deal of cultural exchange between the two countries. In fact, some parts of Poland were once part of Germany. Both countries eat roughly equal portions of potatoes and wheat products. In addition, Polish and German cuisines feature pickled vegetables as popular condiments. Sauerkraut is often served alongside their meat dishes.
4.) AUSTRIA is another Germanic country on this list. Polish cuisine takes inspiration from Austrian culinary traditions. Poland has a few breaded and fried meat dishes that resemble Austria’s Wiener Schnitzel. Additionally, the love for rich pastries is evident in Poland’s filled doughnuts, known as paczki and Austria’s own renowned strudel.
5.) UKRAINE and Poland share a long border. Both Slavic countries cherish dishes like beet soup and dumplings. Ukrainian varenyky are similar to Polish pierogi, featuring various fillings like potatoes, cheese, and cabbage. Similarly, both countries have a tradition of pickling vegetables. Ukrainian cuisine also offers delicacies like holubtsi and vushka, reminiscent of Polish stuffed cabbage and mushroom pierogi.