Medlar Rakija and Fruit-Based Cheese After UK Recipe Soon to Come from Mali Pozarevac

Plum rakija is Serbia’s national symbol, and those who love to take a sip rate rakijas made from quinces, pears and apricots as equally good. There are also grape, apple and honey rakijas. However, those who drink the medlar rakija are rare. The reason is that there are few producers, and one of them is Ilija Stankovic from Mali Pozarevac.

– My father deserves the most praise for the realization of the idea of the medlar rakija. The idea itself was born at the first Fair of Ethnic Food and Drinks, which we attended in 2019, where people had a positive reaction to fresh medlars and showed an interest in the products we make from them. As we have little experience with the production of medlar rakija, there has been a lot of improvising this year, by we hope that we have managed to get a quality product that people will know us for in the coming years – the young fruit farmer says for eKapija.

The Stankovic family will initially promote the medlar rakija and collect feedback in order to, as our interviewee adds “potentially upgrade the quality and the production technology.”

– Considering that, in the first year, we didn’t make any great quantities, for the time being, we are not planning to start selling it. We will give some of it to our friends and leave certain quantities for tasting at the fairs we take part in – Stankovic says.

This family grows medlars on around 15 ares at the moment. They have removed an old plantation and they plan to establish a new one in its place, in order to maintain production on around 30 ares.

– In the sixth year, our plantation currently yields around 30 kg per tree, which we are satisfied with. It doesn’t require any special farming conditions until the harvest, because it is something closest to organic production. More attention is required after the harvest, in the process of the ripening of the fruits – our portal’s interviewee points out.

He also says that medlars can be used to make a jam and that they can be pickled. This year, the farm plans to start processing all fruit sorts, so Ilija hopes that, at the end of the season, they will have new products that they will present to people.

– Among others, probably a fruit-based cheese made from medlars, after a recipe I got from Great Britain from the local medlar producers that I am in contact with and with whom I exchange experiences – Stankovic reveals.

Aleksandra Kekic

Ilija Stanković

Mali Požarevac

medlar rakija

production of medlar rakija

fruit based cheese made from medlars

medlars

growing medlars