An old saying goes that the world belongs to the young! And judging by the customs in Slavonia and Baranja, they indeed have a bright future ahead—especially when it comes to kolinje. Kolinje is a traditional rural custom of processing pork, during which the meat and fatty tissue are transformed into a variety of long-lasting household products.
The usual time for kolinje is November and December, when lower temperatures are ideal for drying meat. Some of the most well-known products that come from this tradition include sausages, kulen, and the increasingly popular pork cracklings (čvarci).
In a broader social and cultural sense, kolinje is much more than meat preparation, it is a communal work event where families, neighbours, and friends gather. With a glass of strong homemade rakija and freshly fried poderane gaće (langos), our traditions are kept alive through togetherness.
The Baranja Tourist Board and the association “Guardians of Old Crafts” from Karanac continue this tradition through the now well-known Winter Fair and Čvarakfest, planned this year for Saturday, 29 November, in the beautiful village of Karanac next to the Church of St. Donatus.
As the organisers announce, visitors can look forward to the fattiest and most delicious bites of the “Baranja truffles”, in other words, čvarci. Visitors will get to experience the entire process of making čvarci through the crackling-melting competition, whose winner will claim the title of Čvarak Master. For those attending, we recommend tasting them while they’re still hot and fresh.
Alongside the crackling preparation, the Winter Fair will take place, where almost 80 local producers and family farms will showcase and sell some of the finest products eastern Croatia has to offer. For those unfamiliar with the region, it’s enough to mention bacon, sausages, kulenova seka, red paprika powder, wines, rakija, natural juices, jams, cakes, honey, and much more, you’ll have no trouble stocking up your pantry for winter!
After the “tiring” shopping, treat yourself to authentic Baranja čobanac, roasted sausages, beans cooked in a clay pot, kotlovina, or carp on a spit. For accommodation, check out the offer on Destination Green Croatia!