At the waning of February, when warmer rays of the sun embrace our coastal landscape beneath Mižolovo and Lukićevo, crowning the branching almond trees with white, fluffy blossoms and turning the entire area white, while the grass has barely begun to grow.

That is how it once was in the Kraljevica area. The traditional coastal cuisine has always reflected the life of this region, with its main ingredients coming primarily from what nature offered at a given moment. When it came to desserts, they were created from what was available.

Spices such as cinnamon, pepper, and cloves, along with nuts, were used generously, and sweetness was drawn from available resources. Walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, and dried fruit formed the foundation of desserts, while honey was the primary sweetener. Sugar, due to its rarity and high cost, was a luxury reserved for the wealthy and was often used as a gift or even as a bribe…

Mendulača – a traditional dessert of Kraljevica

Within this rich gastronomic story, a special place is held by mendulača, a traditional dessert of our region. It is an almond roll made from handmade dough, filled with a mixture of ground almonds, sugar, and lemon zest.

Simple yet rich in flavor, mendulača is a true example of how special-occasion desserts were created from modest ingredients.

That the people of Kraljevica have long embraced a no-waste philosophy is proven precisely by this dessert. Almond shells were used to prepare tea, and for added depth of flavor, a dried fig or two was often included.

A new gastronomic product of our region

Recently, at the official opening of the event Kvarner – European Region of Gastronomy, Kraljevica premiered mendulača as a new gastronomic product of the area. The recipe is based on a traditional formula from Šmrika and, in its modern interpretation, is prepared by chef Antonia Mikac, giving tradition a (sweet) new look.

Throughout the year, mendulača will be further revived and branded through the European Region of Gastronomy program, as a valuable part of the local gastronomic heritage, telling the stories of our region that continue to live on through aromas and flavors.

You can also find the recipe in our new brochure. Taste it – you won’t regret it!

Let us revive it for our heritage, for ourselves, and for future generations. Let our almond not be forgotten!