Wikipedia's first sentence called it “eastern mediterranean and middle-eastern version of spanish tapas”. Today it says “selection of small dishes served as appetizers in eastern mediterranean cuisines”. Sections present on October 6, 2023 no longer exist: “Alcoholic accompaniment; Serving traditions”.
Measured, not asserted. Every count, date and revision on this page was taken from Wikipedia's own history and checked against the live article. The words quoted are theirs.
Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
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The opening as it read in 2005
Mezes (pl. Mezedes ) is the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern version of Spanish tapas . Mezedes are little dishes designed to complement a beverage, tease the tastebuds and encourage diners to linger around a table for good conversation. In Iran , they are used while serving alcoholic drinks in houses or parties. In Greece , they are served in a tsipouradiko or ouzeri , ( café -like establishments that serve tsipouro or ouzo respectively). Likewise in Turkey meze are served in similar establishments called meyhane along with raki . The word meze is of Persian origin. The Persian word مزه mazze meaning flavour is a noun from the verb مزیدن mazzidan i.e. to taste. v t e1
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 16213734.
The opening as it stood in 2010 8 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
A spread of meze in Jordan Meze or mezze ( Arabic , مَزة , Greek mezés (μεζές), Bulgarian мезé mezé , Serbian / Macedonian мезе meze , from Turkish / Bosnian meze , ultimately from Persian maze (مزه) 'taste, snack' < mazīdan 'to taste' ) in the Eastern Mediterranean is a selection of appetizers or small dishes often served with a drink—anise-flavored liqueurs such as arak , ouzo , raki or different wines —similar to tapas of Spain or finger food .In Levantine cuisines and in the Caucasus region these dishes are served as appetizers, as a part of any large-scale meal.When not accompanied by alcohol, meze is known in the Arab world as muqabbilat ( Arabic for "starters").
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 367740601.
The opening as it stood in 2015 3 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
In Levantine , Caucasian and Balkan cuisines meze is served at the beginning of all large-scale meals.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 668760393.
The opening as it stood in 2020 1 passage from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Meze or mezze ( / ˈ m ɛ z eɪ / ) is a selection of small dishes served as appetizers in parts of the Middle East , the Balkans , Greece , and North Africa .In some Middle Eastern and African regions where it is present, especially predominantly Muslim regions where alcohol is less common, meze is often served as a part of multi-course meals, while in Greece, Turkey, and the Balkans, they function more as snacks while drinking or talking.The Oxford Companion to Food .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 964561338.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023 2 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Small dish in Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines "Mezze" redirects here.Meze (also spelled mezze or mezé ) ( / ˈ m ɛ z eɪ / , / ˈ m ɛ z ɛ / ) is a selection of small dishes served as appetizers in Albanian , Armenian , Kurdish , Levantine , Turkish , Greek , Iraqi , Egyptian , Balkan , Caucasian and Persian cuisine , to name a few.It is similar to Spanish tapas and Italian antipasti .A mezze may be served as a part of a multi-course meal or form a meal in itself.In non- Islamic countries, or in areas without alcohol restrictions, mezze are often served with spirits such as arak or grappa . The Oxford Companion to Food . From Tapas to Meze: Small Plates from the Mediterranean .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1177589911.
The opening as it stood in 2025 2 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Small dish in Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines "Mezze" redirects here. Meze (also spelled mezze or mezé ) ( / ˈ m ɛ z eɪ / , / ˈ m ɛ z ɛ / ) is a selection of small dishes served as appetizers in Eastern Mediterranean cuisines. It is similar to Spanish tapas and Italian antipasti . A meze may be served as a part of a multi-course meal or form a meal in itself. Meze are often served with spirits such as arak , rakia , raki , oghi , ouzo , or grappa at meyhane and ouzeri or at regular restaurants.Different meze plates from Turkey The word meze, used in all the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire, borrowed from Turkish meze meaning 'appetizer', which in turn had borrowed it from the Persian maze or maza (مَزه) meaning 'taste' or 'relish'. From Tapas to Meze: Small Plates from the Mediterranean . Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia ."معنی مزه | لغتنامه دهخدا | واژهیاب" . واژه یاب (in Persian) .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1288737743. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “eastern mediterranean and middle-eastern version of spanish tapas”. Today it says “selection of small dishes served as appetizers in eastern mediterranean cuisines”. Sections present on October 6, 2023 no longer exist: “Alcoholic accompaniment; Serving traditions”. Read the current article and compare.
2005
2010
2015
2020
Oct '23
2025
Counts in the opening at each snapshot. Green: the word gained ground. Red: it was cut. Grey: no change.
What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2005, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
eastern mediterranean and middle-eastern version of spanish tapas
Now
selection of small dishes served as appetizers in eastern mediterranean cuisines
Sections that no longer exist
Present on October 6, 2023, absent today, with no near-matching heading in the current article and the article shorter overall, so this is not a renamed heading or a topic absorbed into a fuller treatment. 2 sections of 400 characters or more gone since October 6 2023, with the article 301 characters shorter.
Alcoholic accompaniment
Serving traditions
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
