Sasovsky Chibrik and Archaic Sapozhkovskaya Toy Become New Regional Brands

In January 2026, Rospatent registered two new geographical indications from the Ryazan region to protect and promote unique local products: the Sapozhkovskaya clay toy and the Sasovsky chibrik pie.

Jan 31, 2026

The toy designs have remained unchanged for centuries and are passed down through generations.
Source:
Ryazan Art Museum

In January 2026, Rospatent (the Federal Service for Intellectual Property) registered two new geographical indications from the Ryazan region to protect and promote unique local products. The first brand is the Sapozhkovskaya clay toy, and the second is the Sasovsky chibrik, according to Rospatent«s press service.

The Sapozhkovskaya toy is a folk craft known since the 18th century. Small figures and whistles from 3 to 30 cm, made from special local clay, have historically been created by female artisans who passed down the traditions through the female line. The pottery craft in the village of Alexandro-Praskovinka in Sapozhkovsky District emerged in the late 17th–early 18th centuries as production of pottery, and later as production of clay toys.

Masters gave more importance to the shapes of the toys than to color, so the Sapozhkovskaya (Alexandro-Praskovinskaya) toy preserves traditional ancient images and is considered the most archaic. Among them stand out small whistles—«ulyutki»—riders with torsos that seem to grow from the horse«s back, female figures in bell-shaped skirts and peasant kokoshniks (traditional Russian headdresses).

The second novelty is a gastronomic symbol—the Sasovsky chibrik. This is a round yeast pie with fillings ranging from meat to berry, dating back to the 17th century. Since significant trade routes passed through Sasovo, connecting the settlement with Moscow, Ryazan, Tambov, and Yelatma, fairs and market days were often held here. They traded flour products, including chibriks.

There are memories from old residents of Sasovo that earlier, whole families would go to the city to work in chibrik bakeries. There, men kneaded the dough, women baked, and children sold the finished chibriks. The local history museum of the city has preserved a recipe for chibriks:

Ingredients for making chibriks:

wheat flour — 450-500 g;
milk (kefir, whey, water) — 250 g;
vegetable oil — 50 g;
granulated sugar — 25 g;
salt — 7.5 g;
compressed yeast — 18 g.

Method of preparation: combine milk (whey, kefir, water) heated to 35–40 °C (95–104 °F) with yeast previously dissolved in water, sugar, salt, and flour, mix well. Add vegetable oil and knead until the mass reaches the desired consistency. Then let the dough rise in a warm place, punch down once, and let rise again until it increases in volume by 1.5 times (1.5 hours). The dough should be elastic and not stick to hands. After the dough has risen, place it on a board and roll out to about 2 cm thick, cut out circles weighing 50 g each, and place on a baking sheet. Let rise once more. Make a depression in the center and fill with filling. 5-10 minutes before baking, brush with egg. Bake chibriks at 170–180 °C (338–356 °F) for 15-20 minutes.

Thus, as noted by Rospatent, the list of protected regional brands of the Ryazan region has expanded. Previously, it included «Ryazan Patterns,» «Ryazan Beer,» «Mikhailovskoe Lace,» «Skopinskaya Ceramics,» «Ryazan Ledinets» (a type of candy), «Kadomsky Veniz» (lace embroidery), «Shilovskaya Losa» (wickerwork), and «Mikhailovskaya Kukla-koklyushka» (a doll).