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There may not be an official drink for Rijeka just yet, but if that opportunity arises, look no further than Fiuman! With its aromas of wild plants from Primorje region, this herbal liqueur invites you to immerse yourself in Rijeka's history. You won't be walking through the city - you'll be taken straight into its history!
Suza T.B., Croatian Spirit
There is a family behind Fiuman, a family passionate about the history of their city, intertwined with their own family history. Historically, the Suzić family has made homemade rakija since the 1980s, and in the early 2000s, brothers Tino and Borjan Suzić decided to start a business producing rakija, liqueurs, and other alcoholic beverages, and the Suza T.B. company was born! In their research on the history of alcohol production in Rijeka, siblings Borjan and Irina Suzić discovered the town's history of distilleries. Using the town's legacy as an inspiration, they created a new, original formula - herbal liqueur Fiuman!
How is the liqueur Fiuman made?
A unique taste is achieved by macerating twelve essential herbs local to the Primorje region, such as mint, wormwood, thyme and sage. Besides the twelve herbs, honey and caramel also contribute to the Fiuman's unique taste. Fiuman's formula may be new, but its preparation methods honor Rijeka's long tradition of alcohol production. Every ingredient that ends up in your glass has been carefully selected. The fruits are all from organic farms in the area, and the wild plants are handpicked by the Suzić family on Učka, the highest mountain of the Istrian peninsula.
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Fiuman, a family affair
In order to reinforce the family values even further, the Suzić siblings chose to include their grandmother and grandfather on their labels. The handsome grandfather is smiling from a bottle of Fiuman, and the elegant grandmother is holding a glass of Fiumanka, a fruit liqueur introduced around the same time as Fiuman. Both of these pictures feature Korzo, Rijeka's famous main street, known as the place to see and be seen.
Best Rijeka travel guide? A drop of Fiuman!
It is an understatement to say that the liqueur's name tells a story: its name embodies the spirit of the city and its people. As a port on the Adriatic, Rijeka was a melting pot of nationalities and cultures throughout history. Despite Rijeka's glory days under Habsburg rule, Italian culture has always been present. The word that united its residents was Fiume - the Italian name for the city, which in Croatian means "river". Rijeka's native men are known as fiuman, and its native women are known as fiumanka. Consequently, it's fitting that the liqueurs carry the legacy forward!
It also evokes the historic Fiuman dialect, a dialect of the Venetian language native to Rijeka. Hungarian, German, other Slavic languages such as Slovenian, to name a few - influenced the dialect. Hence, Fiuman is described by the Suzić family as cosmopolitan!
Where to buy liqueur Fiuman?
You can find this cosmopolitan liqueur everywhere: at the Suza T.B. webshop, waiting for you on the shelf of a delicatessen shop, or a fancy souvenir shop. There are also bars and restaurants that serve it, like pub Kont in Rijeka, owned by the Suzić family. Visit the Suzić family farm in Bregi to learn more about the production process and taste Fiuman and other Suza T.B. products.
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