Uzbekistan – UZ008A
Composition: Other
Colour: Yellow
Shape: Raw
Soft, crispy, slightly bitter with a strong aftertaste of construction material.
The clay was obtained at the Chorsu market in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 2019 for the Museum of Edible Earth. It costs less than one euro.
According to the seller named Mavludaat, people drink this clay with water to cope with sudden unexpected fear, stress, anxiety, panic attacks and heart problems. Often they would let the clay sink first, then drink the water therefore not swallowing a large part of the clay itself. It is often purchased by professional sports players. This clay used to be a home for insects (butterflies or bees), and comes from the mountains not far from Tashkent. It contains the remnants of insect life, which seems to be the remedy, not the clay itself. It is known as ‘vohmani ini’, which means ‘against fear’.
After visiting Mavludaat we interviewed villagers in Burchmullo, an urban-type settlement in the northeast of Tashkent Region. It turned out that similar types of earth are widely used in their lives. Sometimes the insects build their clay houses inside the villagers’ homes. Mostly in quiet places, like in their storage areas or if inhabitants are away for a couple of months. The clay walls of the insect houses in the village were much thinner than those we bought at the Chorsu market, however the usage was the same.
Photo by masharu
Taste of clay, slightly salty