If we could turn back time, not so long ago, we would see our ancestors working diligently on the land. We are glad that even today IQM Destination stakeholders maintain olive groves, cultivate vineyards, and raise animals. All ingredients come from gardens, prepared in the traditional way—fresh, with natural aromas and colors. The animals graze on grass and drink pure spring water.
By purchasing local products, we care for our family’s health and contribute to sustainable development.
“The IQM Destination project (Integrated Quality Management) represents a system of integrated quality management for a destination. It brings together stakeholders who meet the standards of implementing at least 25 % local products in their offerings and who have a quality score above 80/100. Today’s tourists travel for a variety of reasons and motivations. For example, until recently, food did not play an important role in tourism, but today gastronomy is often the very reason a guest chooses to come to a destination. The goal of IQM Destination is to gather such stakeholders and create an experience you will remember for a long time.”
If you decide to travel to Lika—a destination that is also part of the IQM Destination project—you can be sure that the products you consume will be just like those prepared by your ancestors.
In order for products from family farms to be truly local and authentic, IQM Destination has set standards. For instance, in hospitality offerings, at least 25 % of the ingredients must be locally sourced. The menu must include a selection of vegetarian dishes, gluten-free dishes, lactose-free dishes, and at least two types of bread. The interior design, music, natural scents of regional essential oils, and service quality must all achieve a minimum score of 80/100.
Visit families who produce top-quality cheeses and dairy products. Their production is based on years of experience, traditional recipes, and high-quality local raw materials. If you choose Krasnarski cheese, Runolist cheese, Škripavac, Velebit cheese, fresh cow’s cheese, cow or sheep ricotta, or Tartufo (Runolist cheese with truffles), you definitely won’t go wrong!
Stop by the vegetable producers where you can buy potatoes, beets, beans, onions, Swiss chard, lettuce, tomatoes, and other vegetables. A product bearing the Lika Quality label is the horn-shaped pepper.
In Lika, fruit has been grown and brandies made for over a hundred years. Passion, love, knowledge, and the experience of ancestors are poured into every bottle of brandy you can buy at their tasting room, Stilanova Lika. Their offerings include traditionally bottled and carefully aged brandies such as šljivovica (plum brandy), quince brandy, honey brandy, carob brandy, cherry brandy, and blueberry brandy. They say it is special, excellent, and world-award-winning, because their brandy is made from fruit!
Don’t forget to bring home “Brigitin floral honey” with the Lika Quality label. In addition to selling honey and other beekeeping products, they also offer honey inhalation—breathing air directly from the hives.
For the finest teas and mushrooms, the hardworking hands of Lika families gather and collect wild products and then process them. Their products—wild fruit tea, dried porcini mushrooms, mixed dried mushrooms, and original shallow and deep wooden vessels—all carry the Lika Quality label.
We hope we have sparked your imagination. Close your eyes and imagine embarking on a journey to Lika, where many, many more exquisite flavors, aromas, and experiences await you!
