KALINOVACKA STELJA: A TRADITION MORE THAN 130 YEARS OLD

Bosnia and Herzegovina has recently gained another officially protected food product – Kalinovacka Stelja, a traditionally prepared lamb meat product that is cold-smoked and naturally dried.

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Kalinovacka Stelja is a cured meat product made from an entire sheep carcass that is completely boned, except for the bones of the front legs and lower legs. The meat is dry-salted exclusively with table salt before being cold-smoked and naturally dried.

PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION

At a ceremony held at the “Kalinovacka Kuca” facility in Kalinovik, Dr Slobodan Dojcinovic, Deputy Director of the Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Dr Dragan Brenjo, Head of the Department for Food Certification and Labelling, presented the decision granting geographical indication protection to the food product “Kalinovacka Stelja”.

The decision was presented to Branka Bozalo, President of the “Kalinovacka Stelja” Association.

A protected geographical indication highlights the connection between a specific geographical area and the name of a product, with its quality, reputation or other characteristics being essentially attributable to that particular area.

THE 12TH PROTECTED PRODUCT

Until now, 11 products in Bosnia and Herzegovina had been granted protection under a geographical indication, making Kalinovacka Stelja the 12th protected product of this kind.

The list includes Nevesinje Potato, Livno Cheese, Visoko Smoked Beef, Travnik Cheese, Herzegovinian Cupter, Fojnica Potato, Semberija Cabbage, Rogatica Potato, Sarajevo Cevapi/Sarajevo Cevapcici, Okra from Brcko District and Majevica Honey.

In addition to protected geographical indications, Bosnia and Herzegovina also has systems for Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) products.

The PDO system applies to products with the strongest connection to their place of production, while the TSG system aims to preserve traditional production methods and recipes and help producers bring traditional products to the market.

A LONG TRADITION OF SHEEP FARMING

According to the Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the tradition of livestock farming, particularly sheep farming, in the Kalinovik area dates back to the Austro-Hungarian census of 1895.

Sheep farming and the production of Stelja have remained largely unchanged over the years, helping preserve the product's original and distinctive quality.

The area's natural conditions also play an important role. An altitude of more than 1,000 metres, combined with specific air currents and low humidity, creates favourable conditions for the natural drying of meat.

PRODUCTION BASED ON TRADITIONAL METHODS

The production of Kalinovacka Stelja is based exclusively on fresh meat from well-fed sheep older than three years, selected from breeding flocks for specific reasons.

The quality of the product is significantly influenced by the altitude and mountain pastures, which are among the defining characteristics of the Kalinovik area.

The entire sheep carcass is used in the production process and is completely boned, except for the bones of the front legs and lower legs. After being dry-salted exclusively with table salt, the meat is cold-smoked and naturally dried.

PROTECTION PRESERVES TRADITION AND SUPPORTS LOCAL PRODUCERS

The Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina points out that geographical protection contributes to preserving traditional production methods, increasing the market recognition of local products and creating additional value for producers and rural communities.

Kalinovacka Stelja is therefore an example of a product whose uniqueness is inseparably connected with the Kalinovik area, its long-standing traditions, traditional production methods and natural conditions.

The geographical indication provides additional recognition of the value of this traditional product and opens opportunities for its stronger promotion and greater visibility both on the domestic market and beyond.