The third edition of the Samardala Festival will be held on 3 May in the central square of Nova Zagora. The aromatic plant, characteristic of south-eastern Bulgaria, is used as a spice and is harvested at the peak of its flowering in May, when the leaves contain the highest amount of valuable nutrients. Immediately after harvesting, the leaves are ground and mixed with salt.

Festival guests will experience the rich palette of flavours and aromas of the famous spice at the Nova Zagora Community Centre, where there will be a culinary exhibition of traditional dishes prepared with samardala and arranged by community centres and pensioners' clubs from all the villages in the region.

There will also be a farmers' market with samardala and complementary natural products, and a folklore programme with a parade of traditional costumes and performances by local amateur groups. The special guest of the festival will be the TV culinary personality Uti Bachvarov. All participants will receive a certificate for attending the masterclasses, BTA said. The city is preparing to welcome thousands of guests from all over the country and abroad.

Samardala (Nectaroscordum siculum bulgaricum) is a herbaceous perennial with a round, sturdy stem ending in large flowers. It is a great seasoning for all dishes with potatoes, eggs, cheese, lamb, roasted mushrooms and rice. It is believed that the spice has health benefits.