September 18, 2020 – Six items of Croatian protected produce are among the 100 European items to go on sale in China

Six items of Croatian protected produce are among the 100 European items to go on sale in China. In a reciprocal deal, 100 Chinese products will also be recognised and recommended on the European market.

Dalmatian prosciutto © TZ Vrgorac

Baranja kulen, Dalmatian prosciutto, Drniš prosciutto, Lika potatoes, Dingač wine and Neretva mandarins are the premium six Croatian protected produce chosen to be among the European 100. All of the Croatian protected produce is already recognised at a national and at an EU-level and designated its status based on its unique place of origin.

Dingač wine © Silverije

Neretva Mandarins

The European products will be specially marked and receive special privileges when they go on sale in China. Alongside the Croatian protected produce, other items on the European list are French champagne, Greek feta cheese, Italian Parma prosciutto, Italian mozzarella, Irish whiskey and Portuguese port. On the Chinese list of products are distinct varieties of rice, bean and vegetable products, some of which will already be popular with Europeans who eat or cook Chinese cuisine.

Drniš prosciutto © Tourist Board of Drniš

The full list of Croatian produce protected at an EU-level currently includes Istrian olive oil, Dalmatian prosciutto, Pag cheese, Lika lamb, Poljički Soparnik, Zagorje turkey, Korčula olive oil, Istrian prosciutto, Sour cabbage from Ogulin, Neretva mandarins, Slavonian honey, Drniš prosciutto, Cres olive oil, Pag salt, Baranja kulen, Bjelovarski kvargl, Varaždin cabbage, Pag lamb, Šolta olive oil, Meso 'z tiblice, Zagorje mlinci, Krk prosciutto, Lika potatoes, Slavonian kulen, Krk olive oil.

Baranja kulen, featured within a traditional Slavonian platter © Romulić & Stojčić

Lika Potatoes

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As Glas Istre/Cristian Bruno Galic writes on the 11th of October, 2019, this year, the best prosciutto from Croatia, Austria, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro will be presented to visitors in Tinjan. Each type of prosciutto presented by these excellent masters, given their geographical origin(s), has its own specificity and unique note in terms of both smell and taste.

This year's International Prosciutto Fair (ISAP), which will be held from the 18th to the 20th of October in Tinjan, will be full of flavours, aromas and of course, superb gastronomic experiences. In short, all of the manufacturers will exhibit the best and highest quality from their own respective productions.

However, another integral part of this famous event is a sport and recreational program for the whole family, as well as special surprises for visitors, such as guided tastings, through which participants will be able to learn from experts how to properly taste the prosciutto and enjoy the fullness of its truly unique taste.

Recreation lovers have ISAP 2019 Hiking awaiting them, which is scheduled for October the 13th, and guarantees an active and fun day in the nature of central Istria.

We know that walking is the most natural and healthy form of movement, and in order for all ages to enjoy a healthy life and the charms of Istria's nature, the 2019 ISAP hike is designed along an easy, 11.5-kilometre circular path, consisting mainly of forest and gravel roads. It all starts at 09:00 with a gathering at the school playground in Tinjan. Registration fees are 40 kuna per person (children under 14 pay nothing), and registration fees include refreshments, a hot meal at the finish line, an ISAP ticket, and sports entertainment and expert guidance.

For those who prefer to ride on two wheels, on the same day, October the 13th, a recreational bike ride has been organised. It starts at 10:00 in front of the main entrance to ISAP, and continues along a 25 kilometre long path. The registration fee for this recreational cycling tour through the heart of Istria is 50 kuna and includes lunch, refreshments on the trail and free admission to the three days of the fair.

A real treat for the adventurous follows a week later, on October the 20th, when the family team race begins at 15:00. It is designed so that the teams, using a map of Tinjan, discover checkpoints and accurately solve all the creative and fun tasks they will encounter during their treasure hunting journey.

All teams will receive a treasure bag at the beginning of the race, finishers will be given finishers' medals, and the best team will find the most valuable treasure - Istrian prosciutto. The entry fee is 40 kuna per person (children under 14 years old go free), and in addition to participation, it includes refreshments and a one-time ISAP ticket.

For those who decide to discover Istrian traditions through food and drink, a favourite moment will be the start of a guided tasting "Prosciutto and wine by Gustus", on October the 19th at 18:00 at the House of Istrian Prosciutto in Tinjan.

Blanka Sinčić Pulić and and Alfredo Cossetto, the famous Istrian winemaker from Kastelir (Vina Cossetto), will, throughout the one-hour trip, teach you all about the secrets of Istrian prosciutto, what makes it special and with which Istrian wine it's best paired with.

It will be possible to learn, for example, what distinguishes Istrian prosciutto from other Croatian and European prosciutto, and also why the champions of this excellent delicacy are so special.

For a price of 75 kuna, the cost of the one-hour workshop, you will also learn how to properly taste the prosciutto, what flavours and scents to pay attention to, and which wines best support the aroma of the prosciutto. All in all, it's a fantastic experience that true gastronomy lovers should never miss.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

The small town of Tinjan in central Istria, near Višnjan, hosts the International Prosciutto Fair each year, a highly anticipated and prestigious event which welcomes many prosciutto makers from all over the world and a large crowd each year.

This year, they're organising the summer variant of the event, held between July the 19th and the 21st, somewhat smaller in terms of the number of presenters, and also aimed at getting the tourists acquainted with this delicacy, the Istrian pršut.

The word mostly used to translate pršut to English is the Italian Prosciutto, although there are siginificant differences between what's called pršut in Croatia and prosciutto in Italy. It is an original Croatian product, with a protected geographical origin label (shared with Slovenia, as the Istrian pršut is made in both countries). It differs from other kinds of pršut one can find in Croatia, which is one of the reasons why it was protected.

To celebrate their premium product, the makers of pršut from Istria have been hosting the international fair, usually in October, but have decided that they need to present their products to the numerous tourists arriving to Istria, and to attract them to central Istria for a day.

While obviously not as big as the main event, this one will also be international and you'll be able to taste pršut made by the following producers: Pršuti Antolović, Pršutarna Dujmović, Pršutana Jelenić, Pršuti Milohanić, Pršuti Radetić, OPG Danijel Erman, OPG Franjul, Budak Pršuti, Compari Pršuti, and Pršutarna Tomaso.

In addition to all the meat, you'll be able to enjoy the cheeses made by the Robert Fabris, Orbanić Silvano and Cetina Franko family farms, olive oils by the Milohanić, Marčelo Rioža and Pinezić Anđelo family farms and honey from the Brečević family farm and Vinko Dantinjana.

Each day, the events start at 20:00, and the party will go on until 02:00 - so having some pršut in Tinjan will not ruin your day on the beach. Maybe, if there's a bit more wine involved, it might get in the way of the next one... There will be music and dancing, provided by the local bands.

As Morski writes on the 3rd of April, 2019, what has been happening with prosciutto for the past three to four years is truly spectacular. Due to its superior properties and specific traditional production technology, Croatian prosciutto producers have stumbled upon some great export potential and even more potential for the product's better placement in Croatian tourism through the country's already rich gastronomic offer.

When compared to five years ago in 2014, exports have increased in quantity by fourteen times, and perhaps most importantly, in value eleven times. Approximately 88 percent of total exports go to the EU market, and just over eleven percent go to CEFTA countries.

''The latest 2018 statistics show an increase in exports of shank and aitchbone products by nearly sixty percent, but unfortunately, we still don't even cover a third of imports. We need new investments and we need to invest in new prosciutto production capacities to double our production, and 700,000 pieces annually to at least meet the needs of the domestic market,'' said Dragan Kovačević, vice president of the Croatian Chamber of Economy for Agriculture and Tourism, at a press conference announcing the event Days of Croatian Prosciutto.

Ante Madir, Executive Director of the "Hrvatsko pršuta" (Croatian prosciutto) cluster, which brings together producers responsible for 95 percent of the total prosciutto production in the Republic of Croatia, explained more precisely what awaits Croatia on the fifth Days of Croatian prosciutto, which is being held from the 26th to the 27th of April at the Zagreb International Hotel this year.

''On the first day, we'll have a manifestation with round tables and workshops, the expert part of the gathering, and the second day at Ban Jelačić Square, there'll be a show-selling part where people can taste our prosciutto,'' Madir said, adding that they decided on Zagreb because quite a large market and a high demand for the product can be found in the Croatian capital.

"What's been happening with prosciutto over the past three to four years is truly spectacular. The signs of protection (special labels) are our tickets to the wider European Union market, that's very important for being able to [have our products] arrive to shop shelves. In Croatia, we still need to work on presenting [our products] to consumers to have them pay more money for something which is domestic and specific,'' said Igor Miljak, chairman of the PPK Karlovac meat industry, stressing that Croatia still doesn't have key gastro brands that are recognised on the European or global market, but it definitely does have the quality to be able to cope well with the competition.

Ana Babić from Voštane pršut, a representative of the Association of Dalmatian Prosciutto, explained the difference between Dalmatian and Istrian, or more specifically Krk prosciutto.

''Dalmatian prosciutto is smoked, while Istrian and Krk prosciutto isn't. There are no additives or preservatives in its production, and the process itself lasts for at least a year,'' Babić explained, adding that the tradition of Dalmatian prosciutto production draws its roots from as far back as ancient Roman times.

Drago Pletikosa of Belcrotrade and the president of the Association of Drniš pršut stressed that Drniš prosciutto is a little and is therefore certified, although there is no difference between Drniš and Dalmatian prosciutto when it comes to the production process itself.

''Last year, we imported 3,848 tons of products worth more than 21.5 million euros and exported 1.113 tons (6.5 million euros). Compared to 2014, exports have increased in quantity fourteen times, and by value eleven times. Approximately 88 percent of our total exports go to the EU market, and just over eleven percent go to CEFTA countries. We export the most to Slovenia (35.5 percent of total exports) and to Italy (28.1 percent),'' stated Pletikosa.

''This event brings together and promotes prosciutto producers from all over the country, whose products are protected by a stamp of designation of origin, and labels of geographical origin (Krk, Dalmatian and Drniš prosciutto) at the EU level,'' stated the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK).

Quality labels for consumers guarantee the purchase of authentic and properly controlled products, with recognised quality and a local origin. Protecting products without educating consumers and business partners about its proper valuation has no great benefit. Therefore, this event contributes to the strengthening of the recognisability of these Croatian meat products with higher added value and a better market positioning, all with the aim of developing the wider Croatian economy.

Make sure to follow our dedicated business and Made in Croatia pages for much more.

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