‘Such an addiction’: Minnikhanov jokes about sunflower seeds in Dubai

Head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov at a food industry exhibition in Dubai admitted that he can«t stop when he starts eating sunflower seeds. He advised which ones are the best. The video was posted on her Telegram channel by the press secretary of the republic»s leader.

“It«s such an addiction. Once you start, you can»t stop. But the best sunflower seeds are from Penza,” Minnikhanov noted during the tasting.

At the large-scale exhibition, various food products from different countries around the world were presented. Tatarstan also set up its own stand at the event. Near it, guests were greeted with traditional Tatar songs and dances.

“Even though the way to the heart is through the stomach, Tatar moñ (a melodic style of music) also leaves no one indifferent,” wrote Minnikhanov«s press secretary.

At the exhibition, the head of Tatarstan met with the ruler of Dubai, Vice President of the UAE Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Minnikhanov often evaluates Tatarstan products at Kazan agricultural fairs. For example, once he assessed a samovar, potatoes, honey, watched how sausage is made, and tried chak-chak (a traditional Tatar pastry) with a loaf of bread. At a winter fair, he felt valenki (traditional felt boots) and socks, asked about homemade bread, and tried sauerkraut. In 2024, the head of the republic inspected how pasta horns are produced by the ton at a new facility in Kazan, but did not taste them.