The food history in Ancient Taraz is intertwined with the city's place on the Silk Road, where diverse cultures met and exchanged not only goods but culinary traditions as well. Over time, Taraz developed a rich repository of dishes influenced by various nomadic and sedentary cultures, including the Turks, Mongols, Persians, and Russians. The traditional cuisine of Taraz, like much of Kazakhstan, relies heavily on mutton, horse meat, various dairy products, grains, and vegetables. However, given the need to cater to a range of palates, this region has adapted some of its dishes to exclude certain types of meat, such as cow.