Cool!
9 Jul 2023, 06:39
Licitar
Today I would like to share a famous Croatian cultural dessert: the Licitar!
Licitars (Croatian: licitarska srca) are colorfully decorated biscuits made of sweet honey dough that are part of Croatia’s cultural heritage. They are a traditional symbol of the Croatian capital Zagreb. They are used as an ornamental gift, often given at celebrations of love such as weddings and Valentine’s Day. At Christmas time, the city of Zagreb and the Christmas tree in the main square in particular are festooned with thousands of licitar hearts.
The tradition of making and giving Licitars stretching as far back as the 16th century. Licitar makers, known as Medičari, were highly regarded in society, and their Licitars very much sought after (licitars were more sentimental than giving a bouquet of roses). Even today the tradition is kept alive by a select few who covet the art in family secrecy, and their methods of production have scarcely changed. Licitar bakeries in 7agora claim to have made the pastry using the same recipe for over 400 years! One Licitar still takes over a month to make. Although not a religious symbol, licitars were often bought to take home as a reminder of their long and sometimes arduous journey to Zagorje. Licitars' simple shape and attractive colour and decorations were a keen souvenir to show their families and neighbours when they came back.
Licitars are made using traditional ingredients, methods and devotion. Their ingredients are simple (honey, flour, eggs, water and natural colours) but their preparation is long. The dough matures for a few days, then is shaped and baked and left for two weeks to dry. Colouring is the next step after which they are left to dry again for two weeks. Once dry the licitars are finally decorated and again left to dry for a week.
Traditionally, Licitars are 100% handmade and usually decorated with a swirling outline, small flowers and sometimes a small mirror. Since they are made of honey dough and natural products, they can be edible before certain decorations are done.
In modern times, Licitars are traditional Croatian souvenirs (and can be found in all Croatian airports and in many tourist gift shops), Christmas tree decorations, wedding favours for guests, business gifts, many other ornamental purposes, and is still given as a way of showing your affection to the ones you love.
Love comes in all colors. #crogaytia
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49 Replies
9 Jul 2023, 06:43
I’ve never heard the name Licitar, but I’ve tried a similar heart-shaped pastry before. It had a dash of chocolate in the dough. I don’t think there’s any Croatian restaurants or bakeries around where I live, that’s a bummer...
9 Jul 2023, 06:51
That’s a shame.Baracuda12 wrote:
I’ve never heard the name Licitar, but I’ve tried a similar heart-shaped pastry before. It had a dash of chocolate in the dough. I don’t think there’s any Croatian restaurants or bakeries around where I live, that’s a bummer...
Love comes in all colors. #crogaytia
9 Jul 2023, 06:51
Yes
9 Jul 2023, 06:56
Oh my god I want one so bad it looks so good homana homana I would sack Constantinople and Baghdad just to get one of these ISTG
CarKing the 6th of the Abrahamic Caliphate
9 Jul 2023, 07:09
Maybe going to your local Croatian market would be an easier way to get some?Carking the 6th wrote:
Oh my god I want one so bad it looks so good homana homana I would sack Constantinople and Baghdad just to get one of these ISTG
Love comes in all colors. #crogaytia
9 Jul 2023, 08:58
From a search there is only a Russian and Bulgarian place in my city, though with a city this big I’d bet it’s somewhere. I could also order online… but sacking cities sounds so fun!
CarKing the 6th of the Abrahamic Caliphate
9 Jul 2023, 17:08
Can’t confirm this, but I’ve heard a rumor that during the time of the Ustaše, the Licitars were made with the blood of killed Serbs as the “frosting”.
“A battle fought without determination is a battle lost.” - Josip Broz Tito
9 Jul 2023, 17:25
Honestly this is tame for the genocidal fascist empires. I could see the same maniacs who murdered innocents decide to deface their culture like that.Brando Dilla wrote:
Can’t confirm this, but I’ve heard a rumor that during the time of the Ustaše, the Licitars were made with the blood of killed Serbs as the “frosting”.
CarKing the 6th of the Abrahamic Caliphate
9 Jul 2023, 17:26
It’s just more proof of how maniac-y they were.Carking the 6th wrote:
Honestly this is tame for the genocidal fascist empires. I could see the same maniacs who murdered innocents decide to deface their culture like that.Brando Dilla wrote:
Can’t confirm this, but I’ve heard a rumor that during the time of the Ustaše, the Licitars were made with the blood of killed Serbs as the “frosting”.
“A battle fought without determination is a battle lost.” - Josip Broz Tito
9 Jul 2023, 17:32 (edited)
I once read about a persons grandfather. During the end of Ustaše rule, they conscripted men, and he was one of the people drafted. He first entered (I think the draft office, or something military) and used a regular Croatian greeting, but the Ustaše ordered him to walk out, come back, and do the Hitler salute followed by Za Dom Spermni. Instead of walking back in, the grandfather was offended and simply walked back home. The area was liberated a month later. The persons grandson who wrote this basically said that they wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for their grandfathers sass!Brando Dilla wrote:
It’s just more proof of how maniac-y they were.Carking the 6th wrote:
Honestly this is tame for the genocidal fascist empires. I could see the same maniacs who murdered innocents decide to deface their culture like that.Brando Dilla wrote:
Can’t confirm this, but I’ve heard a rumor that during the time of the Ustaše, the Licitars were made with the blood of killed Serbs as the “frosting”.
CarKing the 6th of the Abrahamic Caliphate
9 Jul 2023, 17:42
Never heard that one before. Kudos to them!Carking the 6th wrote:
I once read about a persons grandfather. During the end of Ustaše rule, they conscripted men, and he was one of the people drafted. He first entered (I think the draft office, or something military) and used a regular Croatian greeting, but the Ustaše ordered him to walk out, coke back, and do the Hitler salute followed by Za Dom Spermni. Instead of walking back in, the grandfather was offended and simply walked back home. The area was liberated a month later. The persons grandson who wrote this basically said that they wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for their grandfathers sass!Brando Dilla wrote:
It’s just more proof of how maniac-y they were.Carking the 6th wrote:
Honestly this is tame for the genocidal fascist empires. I could see the same maniacs who murdered innocents decide to deface their culture like that.Brando Dilla wrote:
Can’t confirm this, but I’ve heard a rumor that during the time of the Ustaše, the Licitars were made with the blood of killed Serbs as the “frosting”.
“A battle fought without determination is a battle lost.” - Josip Broz Tito
9 Jul 2023, 17:43
Carking the 6th wrote:
Za Dom Spermni.
“A battle fought without determination is a battle lost.” - Josip Broz Tito
9 Jul 2023, 17:44
Brando Dilla wrote:
Carking the 6th wrote:
Za Dom Spermni.
CarKing the 6th of the Abrahamic Caliphate
9 Jul 2023, 17:51
Carking the 6th wrote:
Brando Dilla wrote:
Carking the 6th wrote:
Za Dom Spermni.
“A battle fought without determination is a battle lost.” - Josip Broz Tito
9 Jul 2023, 17:52
Brando Dilla wrote:
Carking the 6th wrote:
Brando Dilla wrote:
Carking the 6th wrote:
Za Dom Spermni.
CarKing the 6th of the Abrahamic Caliphate
9 Jul 2023, 17:53
Okay I think that’s enough.
Let’s not trash this otherwise-interesting thread.
“A battle fought without determination is a battle lost.” - Josip Broz Tito
9 Jul 2023, 18:00
Yes, 4 is good. I’m gonna need to read more about how these are made though. Interesting process.Brando Dilla wrote:
Okay I think that’s enough.Let’s not trash this otherwise-interesting thread.
CarKing the 6th of the Abrahamic Caliphate
9 Jul 2023, 18:02
Lucky for me there’s a Serbian/Croatian market in my city, about a 15 minute drive from my house. I’ll have to stop in sometime and see if they sell them.Carking the 6th wrote:
Yes, 4 is good. I’m gonna need to read more about how these are made though. Interesting process.Brando Dilla wrote:
Okay I think that’s enough.Let’s not trash this otherwise-interesting thread.
“A battle fought without determination is a battle lost.” - Josip Broz Tito
9 Jul 2023, 18:06
Send pictures if you find them! My city seems to only have a Bulgarian store that I couldn’t even reach. Maybe an international market would have something but hopes are low of me ever seeing this desert in person… but I can push that job onto someone else!Brando Dilla wrote:
Lucky for me there’s a Serbian/Croatian market in my city, about a 15 minute drive from my house. I’ll have to stop in sometime and see if they sell them.Carking the 6th wrote:
Yes, 4 is good. I’m gonna need to read more about how these are made though. Interesting process.Brando Dilla wrote:
Okay I think that’s enough.Let’s not trash this otherwise-interesting thread.
CarKing the 6th of the Abrahamic Caliphate
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