Lošinj crocant CROCANTESSA has become the new souvenir of Mali Lošinj

Lošinj crokant is a traditional dessert of Lošinj captains, which is prepared for festive occasions such as weddings, baptisms and important anniversaries. Made from once-precious sugar and almonds, it has always been a symbol of wealth and prosperity.

Ever since the golden age of Lošinj's sailing ships, the crispy cake has been an indispensable part ceremonies on the island, and for the most important events it is prepared on as many as seven floors. Namely, at the peak of the celebration, the krokant on display is smashed for good luck, traditionally with a saber. 

The dessert and tradition just mentioned, "Lošinj crokant CROCANTESS" - now it has become a new island product and souvenir of Mali Lošinj

The tradition of making Lošinj krokant was preserved by the sailors' wives, to whom the sculpture Addio on Čikat was dedicated, and which is also symbolically depicted on the Lošinj krokant packaging. All this is incorporated into the design of the product, which appears for the first time in a practical format suitable for a gift or souvenir, pointed out the director of the Tourist Board of the Town of Mali Lošinj Dalibor Cvitkovic.

This gastronomic novelty in the Lošinj offer was presented by Petar Goleš and Katya Žic-Antunović, in front of the company Porat doo, which primarily deals with catering, and Crocantess it is their first packaged product. In addition to the usual cakes for weddings and other occasions,  for years, they have been making Lošinj krokant for family and public celebrations on the order of the people of Lošinj.

Prompted by occasional requests to make krokant in gift format, they saw the need to provide this festive dessert with appropriate packaging so that the recipient could break it for good luck, anywhere in the world. In the desire to create a representative gift i  a desirable souvenir for everyone leaving the island was created Crocantess – Lošinj crokant in festive attire. 

"Our desire was to offer the people of Lošinj a product  which they can proudly bring as a gift when they travel from the island to visit or welcome their guests with an autochthonous dessert. Considering that we stick to tradition, dance in folklore and participate in various events, this is our contribution to preserving the gastronomic heritage and identity of the island of Lošinj. We are pleased with the fact that we encountered great support from the community and individuals who selflessly helped in the realization. We hope that the people of Lošinj will be as proud of Lošinj crokant as we are of Crocantess", he said Petar Goleš, director of Porat doo

Lošinj Crocantes Crocantessa is made entirely by hand, in the traditional way, according to the family's own recipe. The square plate of Lošinj crokant is protected from moisture with cellophane and placed in a reinforced box that protects it from breaking until a festive moment - at the moment of celebration, the instructions suggest breaking the Lošinj crokant for good luck.

It is only available on the island of Lošinj, in MOBY DICK Mali Lošinj, Veli Lošinj and Nerezine pastry shops and in the GASTRO CROATIA delicatessen. 

Zrinka Ettinger Starčić, director of the Lošinj Museum, she emphasized the importance of Lošinj crokant in the context of gastronomic intangible heritage. "The specialty of Lošinj krokant is its square shape, the way it is made and constructed - made from only two ingredients: sugar and chopped almonds, rolled into very thin plates from which floors, columns and decorative arches are made. The very process of making krokant requires great dexterity and speed, because, like iron, krokant is shaped only while it is hot. This delicacy makes it particularly fragile and suitable for the ritual of smashing for good luck. The more pieces, the more luck in the future."

In the light of the initiative of the company Porat doo, Irena Dlaka, an art historian, researched historical records and facts about the continuity of crokant making on the island, and the Lošinj museum registered the Lošinj crokant for entry into the register of intangible heritage of Croatia.

Photo author: Antonio Pavela