V International Jam Festival was held in Gabala.
On August 26th, the V International Jam Festival took place in Gabala city. Participants of the festival held at the initiative and with organizational support of the Gabala Region Executive Power, and with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan’s National Culinary Center and Azerbaijan National Culinary Association, honored the memory of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and laid flowers at his monument. At the international event took place in the park in front of the “Qafqaz Karvansaray” Hotel in Gabala city, confectioners from 22 countries (Turkey, Germany, Belarus, Great Britain, Georgia, Croatia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Poland, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, North Cyprus and China), as well as the jam makers representing 44 cities and regions of Azerbaijan demonstrated their products. Among the spectators of the festival held under the aegis of the World Association of Culinary Organizations and World Organization of Folk Art, were senior officials of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Azerbaijan’s National Culinary Center, ambassadors of a number of countries to Azerbaijan, more than five thousand local and foreign tourists. In the opening ceremony of the festival, Head of the Gabala Region Executive Power Sabuhi Abdullayev, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Vagif Aliyev, Deputy of Milli Majlis, Chairperson of the National Council of Elders Fattah Heydarov, President of the World Association of Chefs' Societies (WACS) Thomas Andreas Gugler, Director of Azerbaijan’s National Culinary Center Tahir Amiraslanov made speeches. It was noted that Gabala is hosting this great jam festival for more than 5 years. Participation of the confectioners from 22 countries and 44 cities and regions, while this number was 10 foreign countries and 30 cities and regions in 2016, shows that the reputation of this festival is spreading year by year. The speakers said that the main purpose in organizing such festivals is to achieve the maintenance of intangible cultural heritage of our nation. The Jam Festival is one of the main factors boosting the development of tourism in Gabala. Now Gabala is the second tourism center of Azerbaijan after Baku. Each day thousands of local and foreign tourists come to the region to relax. Gabala has already turned into Center of Festivals. International Music Festival which is yearly held in Gabala with the organizational support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation spreads its fame over the world. It was emphasized that the Jam Festival plays an important role in a closer acquaintance with the rich culinary culture of not only Gabala, but also all of the regions in the country. The speakers outlined the organization of the International Jam Festival in Gabala - one of the ancient and beautiful cities of Azerbaijan - is not by chance. It was noted that, Gabala, passing long way of development, plays an important role in formation of the culinary culture of our nation. Therefore, each year the Jam Festival is traditionally held in Gabala. The speakers said that there are already held internationally known festivals relating to sweets, pomegranate, pilaw, apple, watermelon, baklava and other fruits, vegetables and food products in several regions, and this Jam Festival is one of those festivals being accompanied by influx of tourists. In addition, Azerbaijan occupies a special place among the traditional jam-making centers of the world. The jams prepared by the confectioners of our country distinguish from the others with their perfect and delicious tastes and a wide range of assortment. It was obviously seen when the demonstrated jams of Azerbaijan and foreign countries in the Gabala International Jam Festival were compared. During the festival, Azerbaijan's jams were considered more preferable for its variety and quality than the other countries’ products. The Gabala jam festival aimed to promote the culture and national culinary of our country, was attended by teams of eight people preparing eight kinds of jams from each of the regions, and artistic groups, masters of national applied art of these cities and regions. At first festival was organized in the form of competition. A special commission was created in that regard. The competitors presented cherry, blackberry, strawberry, quince, walnut, apricot, rose petals and plum jams. The jury including relevantly qualified specialists and experts decided the winners. After the competition the sale and exhibition of the jams were organized. At the festival, several kind of jams, sweets and fruit juices presented by the confectionary teams, aroused great interest of foreign and local tourists. Within the festival the companies producing jams, wine, fruit juices, and food products demonstrated their products too. A wide range of branded products of "Savalan" grape cultivating and wine manufacturing enterprise attracted attention of foreign tourists. Visitors with pleasure tasted jams prepared by manual labour and by industrial methods, and interested in their recipes. Within the festival the exhibition-fair of the products of applied arts masters was held, and performances of Gabala artistic groups were organized. Attending V International Jam Festival in Gabala, President of the World Association of Chefs' Societies (WACS) Thomas Andreas Gugler declared Gabala city as the International Jam Center, and presented certificates and cup signed by famous chefs to the Head of the Gabala Region Executive Power Sabuhi Abdullayev. Furthermore, on the basis of the opinion of the jury and in the presence of the participants, the best jam makers were elected. In the jam competition winners were announced in 3 categories. The participants were awarded with cups, medals and valuable prizes. The festival was continued with the interesting concert program.
