The hinterland of the heart-shaped Croatian peninsula is a
hidden treasure for all lovers of gastronomy. The once uninhabited area has been turned into a
treasure trove of flavours and aromas that will enchant any visitor. You will be delighted by the restored old olive groves and vineyards, planted new olives and vines, orchards and vegetable gardens, and
small family taverns will spoil your palate with old
traditional recipes.
Get lost in the
mysterious Motovun woods, while looking for
black and white truffles that you can taste in many delicious ways. Istrian cuisine offers a
wide range of delicacies, from fuzi with truffles, venison and boskarin with pljukanci, asparagus frittata, manestra, prosciutto, pancetta and other meat products to seafood specialities, fish, crabs and shellfish from the Lim Channel.
Truffles
The most beautiful Croatian peninsula is rich in fertile red soil, but also grey clay in the central part of Istria. In this clay and moist soil, in the Motovun woods, you can find a
black and white gourmet pearl - the Istrian truffle. The Istrian white truffle is one of the
most prized in the world. You can find it in the fall, and it is best to taste it freshly picked. One interesting thing is, that the largest white truffle has been found in Istria, and is included in the
Guinness Book of World Records. The truffle was found by Giancarlo Zigante and weighed
1.31kg. This is why we recommend you to take part in the search for this famous pearl, maybe you will find a new record holder!
Olive oil
“
The olive is a symbol of the Mediterranean, we can say that the Mediterranean ends where there is no olive." The
tradition of making olive oil in Istria dates back as far as
2500 years, during the time of the Greeks, who are responsible for growing many types of olives in Istria. Istrian olive oil is one of the
most awarded oils in the world, which has been used for thousands of years as a great spice for the best dishes, but also a body care product and a remedy for various ailments. This “
Liquid Gold” is obtained by pressing the healthy fruit of the olive tree. There are four types of oil in terms of quality: extra virgin, virgin, olive and sansa oil. You can best experience the traditional way of making the best olive oil
in September while picking olives or in the olive oil museum in Pula. The museum shows the history of olive oil in Istria and its production, but you can also learn how to recognise and
taste quality olive oil.
Malvasia
The most important sort in Istria is the Istrian Malvasia. It is a white sort that
occupies the largest area of vineyards in Istria. It belongs to a large group of Malvasia, which has more than fifty sorts with different characteristics. Istrian Malvasia is a
unique and indigenous sort that has been grown for centuries in the elevated terrains of the Istrian peninsula. Istria is a leading region in the production of Malvasia, whose young producers are successfully appearing on the world markets, where they are often
highly rated and rewarded for their top quality. Among the producers, the Matosevic family (Malvasia Alba), the Kozlovic family (Malvasia Santa Lucia), and Coronica and Trapan stand out, whose Malvasia has been gaining worldwide attention in recent years. We recommend you to visit some manufacturers and
taste their top products.
Pasta
For all pasta lovers, Istria is an ideal place where you can
taste traditional types of pasta. Thanks to the historical influence of Venice, Istria slowly changed its names and forms and turned them into indigenous culinary delicacies. For all pasta lovers, Istria offers numerous dishes such as
Labin krafni - ravioli stuffed with a mixture of eggs, cheese and raisins, posutice topped with hot olive oil and salted sardines,
pljukanci with goulash, but the most famous are
fuzi, type of pasta served with venison or truffles.
Are you as
hungry as we are? Read the article on our My Istria Guide about the
best Istrian restaurants where you can taste all Istrian dishes or maybe try to prepare Istrian specialities at home.
Enjoy your meal!
Ana-Marija Tot
23.12.2022
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
