Ufa city was founded by Russians in 1574 as a fort and in 1922 became the capital of Bashkortostan Autonomous Republic of the USSR and then Russia. The name Bashkortostan comes from the Bashkir people who live in the area for many centuries.
The Bashkirs are famous for breeding horses. Their strong nomadic heritage helps them to breed horses able to compete and win in many famous races. Even their national drink comes from horses. It is called kumys and made out of horse's milk. Locals believe that kumys contains many vitamins and is good for lung treatments.
The bravest can try it in every restaurant in Ufa along with Vak-baljash, which is similar to big pelmeni (dumplings) but filled with meat and potatoes. If you are a honey fan, you will have a chance not just to taste, but also learn a lot about one of the best quality home made honeys.
Honey they make is considered the best in Russia. You can buy it in the downtown food and souvenir shops, often in traditional decorated containers.