Kolletatud

Kolletatud is an Estonian adjective meaning burnt or charred. It describes surfaces or materials that have undergone heating resulting in browning, blackening, or carbonization. The term is widely used across culinary, architectural, and archaeological contexts to convey a specific heat-altered state.

It is a past participle form, formed with the common Estonian suffix -tatud, and typically linked to a verbal root related to burning or exposure to heat. As a neutral descriptor, kolletatud simply notes that heat damage has occurred; it does not by itself define quality or safety.

In cooking, kolletatud describes crusts or edges that have darkened during baking or frying, such as kolletatud leib (burnt bread) or kolletatud köögiviljad (charred vegetables). In this sense, it can be used descriptively or evaluatively, depending on context and preference for texture and flavor.

In construction or archaeology, kolletatud can describe timber, beams, or remains that show charring, often indicating exposure to fire; such material may be studied for burn depth, fire history, or preservation state.

See also: browning, charring, burning.