Kulen Matijević

Ulica Košuta Lajoša 10, 31308 Suza, Croatia

Delicatessen

3 PHOTOS

Gault&Millau presents

Delicatessen The Matijević family from the picturesque village of Suza produces Baranjski kulen, the first Croatian kulen to receive EU-level geographical indication protection. This traditional cured meat delicacy is made entirely from carefully selected pork from their own farm in Draž. Production takes place on their estate in Suza, where visitors can also enjoy tastings. They raise 200 pigs in a traditional way. Owner Hrvoje Matijević is the master craftsman; he learned most of the skills from his father Marijan Matijević, as well as from experts at the Faculty of Food Technology in Osijek and kulen masters. His father, a native from Nova Gradiška, comes from a family that once made only two kulens - one for Easter and one for visiting guests - Slavonian-style. But after becoming a Baranja son-in-law, he devoted himself to Baranja style kulen. Using time - honoured methods passed down through generations, the kulen is seasoned with garlic, sweet and hot paprika from the Baranja region, salt, and white pepper, then cold-smoked over hornbeam and ash wood. It matures under controlled conditions at about 80 % humidity and temperatures not exceeding 15°C, resulting in a product of exceptional quality.