Sweet Istria is an annual event held in Koper. It is a gastronomic event where local producers present a variety of confectionery products typical of the Istria region. Visitors can enjoy tastings and shopping for desserts and other products. The event also hosts side events such as musical performances, workshops, wine presentations and other activities that complement the gastronomic experience. It is no wonder that the event attracts thousands of visitors from Slovenia and abroad.
As mentioned above, the event took place in Koper, a coastal city located in the south-west of Slovenia on the Adriatic Sea. The main part of the event took place on Titov Square, one of the most popular locations in the city. Many local producers and craftsmen were present at the event, offering their products made with local ingredients. These include desserts, cakes, jams, honey, liqueurs, olive oils and other local products. Beside tasting the food, it is also a great opportunity to meet local craftsmen, talk to them, and find out everything you want to know about their products.
When we arrived at the event, we queued up at the cash desk to buy coins, which we then used for tastings and to buy products from the vendors.
There were many cake varieties. I can't list everything that was on offer, nor can I remember all the names. But everything looked and smelled delicious.
Of course, my family and I tried some of the desserts made by local pastry chefs, and I can only say they were yummy.
There was also a vast selection of classic products such as pancakes, bread and honey. The bread looked very rustic, made of rye flour. I could imagine the taste of it when you spread honey on it.
Many stands were serving fritulas and flancates, typical local desserts. They are made from yeast dough and fried in oil. If you have never tasted them, I warmly recommend you do so as soon as possible.
Chocolate in different forms was all around. There were chocolate bars filled with various fillings, from pumpkin seeds to pumpkin seed oil, meringue, etc. Of course, there were also chocolates in a wide variety of flavours.
The stands also offered wines and spirits. The most striking for me were the liqueurs made from varietal wines such as Refosco and Malvasia, as well as local gins and schnapps. You won't believe it, they even had chocolate wine.
The Sweet Istria event also includes other activities such as music concerts, children's workshops, wine presentations and other events. During our visit, we enjoyed a concert in Tito's Square, where the atmosphere was warmed by the charming local girls band's energetic music. We listened to a few songs and then went on to explore the event.
A workshop for our youngest children was going on in the nearby square, which came into view. They had the chance to practice creating dough here, surrounded by gorgeous decorations, with the assistance of kind instructors.
We also took home some sweets. My wife and I are not sure, but we think some of the sweets disappeared in the car. My son, who was conscientiously watching over them, says he knows nothing about this 🤣. The Sweet Istria event is therefore an excellent opportunity to get to know the culture, cuisine and traditions of Istria.
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