DELICACIES FROM KUPRES REACH THE UNITED STATES

As morning smoke slowly rises from chimneys and temperatures often remain below zero, the air on the Kupres Plateau carries the scent of pine needles, purity, cold, and above all, a sense of freedom that fills both body and spirit. The true wealth of this highland area lies not only in its ski slopes, but also in its abundance of medicinal herbs.

PHOTO: Glas Srpske

In the village of Zanaglina near Kupres, this natural treasure has been carefully studied and combined for more than 15 years by Dragan Spremo, who patiently creates unique natural products inspired by the mountain itself.

A thick blanket of snow covers pastures, forests, and roads, turning this mountain landscape into a winter postcard. While the sounds of children, beginners, and recreational skiers intertwine on the slopes, the aroma of homemade food, mulled wine, and tradition drifts from mountain houses, as if straight out of an animated film. During winter, Kupres lives fully—slowly, yet richly—becoming one of the most vibrant mountain destinations in the region.

Beyond skiing and sledding, more and more visitors come to Kupres in search of peace, clean air, and what the mountain has always generously offered: untouched nature.

A Mountain as a Laboratory

At an altitude of around 1,250 meters, with a harsh climate and long winters, Kupres has always represented a unique meeting point between humans and nature. Beneath its lively tourist image lies a mountain that lives year-round. Its forests, rich in fir, spruce, white pine, larch, and numerous medicinal plants, form a natural shield from urban pollution and play an important role both in nature and traditional medicine.

From this deep respect for nature emerge quiet yet lasting stories. One of them leads to Zanaglina, where Dragan Spremo has spent the last decade and a half learning, researching, and blending the gifts of nature in the modest surroundings of his home. Drawing inspiration from experiences and knowledge from Siberia and Russia, he developed recipes for various herbal preparations, including his now well-known pine cone jam.

“I was always reading, searching, and experimenting. There were many unsuccessful attempts before I found the right formula,” Spremo told local media.

Jam Made from Young Pine Cones

An ecologist at heart since childhood, Spremo explains that his pine cone jam is made exclusively from young cones, two to three centimeters in size, harvested before they harden.

“The process can last up to seven days. It involves multiple stages of cooking with resting periods in between, resulting in a sweet syrup with whole cones inside,” he explains.

In addition to jams made from fir, spruce, white pine, and larch cones, his offer includes balms, tinctures, and syrups derived from various medicinal plants and forest mushrooms. Everything is produced in small batches, as mass production has never been his goal.

“Kupres is ideal for collecting nature’s gifts because it is clean. I gather herbs, cones, and mushrooms in the mountains and turn them into healing products,” says Spremo.

Customers Without Advertising

Most customers discover his products through word of mouth—often tourists who visit Kupres in winter and return home with an unusual mountain souvenir. Despite working far from the public eye and without advertising, Spremo’s products have found their way to buyers around the world.

“Customers come from abroad as well—Canada, the United States, Germany, Serbia, and Croatia. Winter tourists often take a jar of pine cone jam home with them. I don’t have time for advertising, nor could I meet larger demand,” he adds.

He is particularly pleased that people who first come to Kupres for skiing later return for something entirely different.

“They come to ski or sled, and after tasting the jam, they contact me again to buy more. That’s how the story continues,” says Spremo, emphasizing that quality and balance matter more to him than following trends.

Natural Preparations and ‘Kupres in a Jar’

Alongside jams and candied pine cones, his selection includes dozens of natural preparations made from medicinal herbs and forest mushrooms. These include balms, tinctures, and syrups prepared as water- or alcohol-based macerates and combined according to their intended use.

People most often contact him for immune support, chronic inflammation, anemia, skin problems, and recovery after frequent infections. Parents also seek natural support for their children’s immunity. Spremo stresses that his products are meant as support, not a replacement for medical therapy.

Prices reflect the handcrafted process and limited quantities. A 250-gram jar of pine cone jam costs around 15 convertible marks, while tinctures and herbal blends range from 15 to 20 marks. More complex mushroom-based preparations can reach up to 60 marks due to the demanding production process and rare raw materials.

A Rare Dessert: Candied Pine Cones

In addition to his signature jam, Spremo also produces something even rarer—candied pine cones.

“Candied pine cones are more of a dessert. They have an unusual flavor, and people are surprised when they try them. Some are even coated in dark chocolate, which makes them even better,” he says with a smile

As Kupres continues to attract winter sports enthusiasts, stories like this serve as a reminder that the mountain’s true value is not measured only in kilometers of ski runs, but also in knowledge, patience, and nature that has not yet lost its strength.