Two peoples inhabited the territory of Mordovia – the Moksha and the Erzya. The region only became known as Mordovia in the middle of the 20th century, but the ethnic groups themselves are ancient. Both ethnic groups began to form in the middle of the first millennium AD. The rich heritage of their ancestors is reflected in the culture of the modern Mordovians. For example, the most famous dish in the local cuisine is “bear’s paw”! According to the legend, when a young man of this region wanted to get married he would prove his manliness by heading out into the forest … to catch a bear! The brave bridegroom had to give his bride a fried bear’s paw! Today, that tradition is only maintained in the name of a dish. To relish a “bear’s paw” today, you don’t need to go into the forest. The host of “The Geography of Taste” will show you how to cook one using simple ingredients, but the way it’s served has been preserved unchanged!