Old Zagreb's Sweets

It is not just that I can eat all those candies that I get for some festive occasion, but whatsmore, I get to write about them, as well. When I was a child I had my favourite sweets, like every other child on Earth. But when I left to track them down in a store, I got pretty much surprised by how many of them were of a Croatian origin. Whatsmore, there are so many of them. I really couldn't choose just two, or three, as it usually goes, so I decided to show you all of them that I could find. Just like the three chocolates that you see by the title of this blog. They are called 'Seka & Braco' which means 'Sister & Brother'. This product is a simple milk chocolate or with biscuits. It had numerous wraps throughout the years, but the idea is simple – to keep these retro smiling kids reminding us of some simpler / better times.

Sweet Secret

 Image credit: Josipa Zizic

Sweet Secret were jelly candies with a refreshing taste of lemons and oranges covered with sugar. Can there be even more sugar? :) I got so excited when I saw them in a store because it evokes some good memories of mine. They are shaped like half – moon, so it makes them even sweeter. Now they are called just "Jelly slices". What a disappointment.

'505 s crtom' or '505 with line' is the name of a candy. This strange name comes from a simple reason - because these candies have a line over it – straight dark line. Dunno why, but that's how the universe works. They have a specific shape of a regular hexagon and a number 505 on them. When it comes to a specific number in the name, allegedly, producers knew that all kids wanted to get an A (5) in schools, but they didn't want it to be so obvious. James Bond was very popular at the times, so they originally decided to put somehow these two ideas together. These are hard candies, so all you can do is to chew them slowly, or you will loose your teeth. Don't tell me I didn't tell you. Of course, these candies were a red alert for parents who looked at me with their big eyes as if I was carrying a bomb in my hands.

My first, my last, my everything – Ki – Ki. These are soft, colourful, fruity candies with the most delicious taste possible. Its mascot is a happy clown! When I was little, there was only one flavour. Now kids can choose mixed version, strawberry, apple, and much more. Oh god, why did I get to pluck strawberries all over again from every pack that I bought?

Milk & Cookies

Image credit: Josipa Zizic

Domacica and Napolitanke are primarily cookies with chocolate. I find them as sweets because they are sweet. Simple as that. One box of these cookies was always present at my table for breakfast or late dinner. I used to dip them into hot milk or a tea. Even today I like to buy some box, especially when I am sick and can not eat much.

Get Rid of a Cold

Bronhi and Menthol did not represent a candy, in my opinion, because they were not sweet – rather they had a taste of menthol. I always remember the look on my face when I would get these fake sweets for the birthday. Nothing more nor less than a disappointment. However, they were candies that everyone's grandparents held in pockets, just in case. Today I regularly consume them at every cold or stuffy nose. This is the reason why they are still one of my favourites.

 Image credit: Josipa Zizic

Candy To Go!

Bananko and Tortica are candies to go! The first one is a small jelly banana top coated with chocolate, and another one is roughly translated like a little cake made of biscuit and chocolate. They are always placed next to a cash register, so I used to secretly grab a few of them and put them in a shopping bag, hoping my parents wouldn't see. Until they had to pay, of course. Lamb eyes always worked for me. ;)

 Image credit: Josipa Zizic

Chocolate Exceptions

Bajadera and Kras Express, are exclusive exceptions here. That is because Bajadera is the most famous luxurious chocolate that you buy someone for a present. It is so freaky good, that people find it hard to get to know the recipe. I mean, they are trying, but nothing can come even close. You should set aside a few dozen kunas for this treat, but your palate will be grateful until the end of life. Kras Express are chocolate and cacao sprinkles that you can buy in a huge tube. Its purpose is to put it in a milk to make it chocolate, sprinkle over cakes, or just eat it with a spoon. :D

Image credit: Josipa Zizic

Traditional Sweets

If we go a little less mainstream, it would be the traditional sweets that children like to consume. Caramelised apples are usually eaten during the fall. Apples in caramel are a practical dish that is fast to prepare, you do not need to turn on an oven. There are many different recipes for apples in caramel. Depending on what kind of texture and density of caramel you want. Also, you can sprinkle chocolate chips or nuts. At the end, just put apples on a thin stick and enjoy real autumn in healthy and tasty delicacy.

On the other side, honey cakes have become mainstream, because they are an essential souvenir for many tourists. During the past, honey was the main sweetener, so people got the idea of how to connect them with cookies. They can be soft or hard, and their colour depends on the type of honey you choose. While these cookies look pretty much simple, you do need the right recipe and skilled hand to make real honey cakes. Each family keeps its original recipe. They are a durable product, which is under a colorful background of Licitar's heart. ;)

Image credit: Josipa Zizic 

Header Image Credit: Josipa Zizic

Author: Josipa Zizic