Gourmets will find Croatia to be a treasure trove! Whenever you discover a new destination, you are also exposed to new dishes and cuisines. Explore Slavonia, the most eastern Croatian region, for a true taste of Croatian gastronomy. Aside from sunflower fields, oak forests, picturesque scenery and tasty food, Slavonia is one of the best places to experience continental Croatia. According to a JATrgovac magazine survey, one in five Croatian citizens consumes meat every day. Curdled meat is a culinary staple in this country, so it's no surprise! 

As family secrets, recipes are usually passed down from generation to generation. Every family makes their own cured meat, whether it's sausages, Kulen, bacon, etc. They gather once a year, sometimes team up with friends, and make their own specialties. In addition to being the centerpiece of cold starters, cured meat is the highlight of every occasion. Whenever you are in Slavonia, 'Meza' (Croatian term for cured meat platas) will undoubtedly welcome you to the table with sausages, ham, kulen, bacon, etc.

You're hungry, right? What would be a good place to begin your journey into gastronomic cured meat? What about the king of Croatian cured meat - Kulen?‍‍

Slavonian and Baranja Kulen

‍The most prestigious and most expensive sausage-type product of eastern Croatian cuisine is definitely the kulen. Paprika and garlic are combined with premium pork cuts to create this product. As it matures, it is smoked and dried to perfection, acquiring its popular dark brown color.

Smoky aromas and rich flavor are what we love about it, especially when paired with mild cheeses and great Slavonian white wines such as Graševina or Traminac. 

At the EU level, Kulen, Slavonian, and Baranja's are also protected, however Baranja's Kulen also contains white pepper. If you love spicy food, you can't miss this! It is recommended that you try Baranja Kulen by Belje, which has won numerous prizes for its Kulen. Shop it here.

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Bacon

Authentic Black Slavonian pigs produce delicious Slavonian bacon, whose meat is highly prized and marked as an exclusive. There is a very characteristic smell of dried smoked meat, and the taste is salty, rich, and buttery. 

Croatians love bacon, as evidenced by the fact that they produced the world's largest bacon in 2019, which weighed 194kg. 

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Blood Sausages

These sausages are made with blood! Generally produced in Zagorje and Slavonija-Baranja, these sausages are a true specialty. The most common way to serve them is with boiled potatoes sautéed in onion. 

Using barely, cornflour, or buckwheat, blood sausages are made by cooking pork blood and skin.

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Čvarci

Feeling a little hungry? We have a few more Croatian cured meat specialties to share with you. One of them is čvarci (pork scratchings). In Slavonia and across Croatia, these snacks are one of the most popular dishes. In order to make čvarci, lard-cut pieces are fried in their own fat. For a caramel, golden color, milk can be added. The process lasts until there is no fat left. They are then pressed, cooled, and spiced. Shop them here.

Having introduced you to these wonderful delicacies, don't you think it's time to taste them? If you want to try some of those delicious cured meats that Croats love, visit Dobro webshop! 

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