Saturday, July 11, 2020

Slovenia 2020 - EUROMED, Traditional Gastronomy of the Mediterranean


Technical Details:
Release date: 13 July 2020
Design: Edi Berk
Motive: Olive Oil, Istrian jota, Gulf, Refosco, Malvasia
Print: Agencija za komercijalnu djelatnost d.o.o., Zagreb, Croatia
Technique: 4-colour offset in sheets of 25 stamps
Papir: Tullis Russell Chancellor Litho PVA RMS GUM, 102 g/m2
Perforation: Comb 14 : 14

EUROMED POSTAL - Traditional Gastronomy of the Mediterranean

The Slovenian part of the Istrian peninsula, the Goriška Brda hill region and the valley of the river Vipava are among the northernmost areas where olives grow. For this reason, the extra virgin olive oil from these areas is of remarkable quality and flavour, as confirmed by numerous prestigious international awards. This oil is obtained using exclusively mechanical methods, undergoes no heat treatment or chemical treatment and contains no additives. Attention is paid when picking the olives to ensure they are not damaged. Olive oil from Slovenia is a highly prized ingredient, in particular as part of the so-called Mediterranean diet and in cosmetics, and has many beneficial effects.

Unlike the jota of the Karst and Trieste, traditional Istrian jota does not contain potato and is mainly eaten as a warming winter stew (this does not, of course mean that the potato-less variety is the only kind of jota prepared in Istria). The best accompaniment for jota is polenta, either white or yellow. Istrian jota also includes beans, although they have only been part of the recipe since the seventeenth century.

The Fonda fish farm in the Gulf of Piran, famous for its sea bass, is located at the southernmost point of Slovenia's territorial waters, an area characterised by clean, deep seawater and a strong marine current, which means that the water here is constantly replaced. The ideal local climate and low salinity of the seawater have a positive effect on the quality of Piran sea bass and the firmness of its meat. The fish are fed the finest natural feed, based exclusively on planktonic and benthic organisms. All these factors mean that the Piran sea bass farmed by Fonda are fish of the very highest quality. Fonda also farms mussels. These are farmed on ropes that float freely in the sea, attached to buoys.

The historically diverse and ethnically mixed area between the Friuli region of Italy and Istria also has some notable characteristics in the area of wine and viticulture. The two most notable wines of the Slovenian part of the Istrian peninsula are Refosco (refošk) and Malvasia (malvazija). Refosco is a domesticated grape variety that produces wines of a characteristic dark purplish-red colour with acidic and pleasant fruity flavours suggesting blackcurrant and raspberry. Some authors consider it to be native to the area extending from the Karst to Istria. On the Karst plateau the wine from this grape is called teran (Terrano). The Refosco grape does not only grow in the Slovenian part of Istria but also in the Goriška Brda hill region, on the Karst, in the Vipava Valley, in Friuli and in the Croatian part of Istria. The biggest Refosco-producing winery in the world is Vinakoper in Koper. The Malvasia grape is of Greek origin but is a domesticated variety in Istria. Malvasia is an excellent dry white wine of a golden-yellow colour, with an intense bouquet and full flavour. It goes well with white fish, shellfish, poultry and mild cheeses.

Janez Bogataj

Malta 2020 - EUROMED, Traditional Gastronomy In The Mediterranean


Technical Details:
Issue Date: 09 July 2020
Designer: MaltaPost p.l.c
Process: Offset
Sheet Size: 118mm x 185mm 
Stamp Size: 44mm x 31mm
Values: €0.30, €0.59, €1.25

About Euromed - Traditional Gastronomy In The Mediterranean

The Postal Union for the Mediterranean (PUMed), forms part of the Universal Postal Union, and marks the Mediterranean region as a political, economic and social area. It operates in a region where economies and societies face common challenges and opportunities.

Members come together to develop projects that assist postal operators keep abreast of challenges the market poses. Each year PUMed organises a stamp issue among all its members, based on a common theme. This year's joint stamp issue is themed "Traditional Gastronomy in the Mediterranean".

Maltese gastronomy is closely linked to our long relationship with outside cultures. Although traditional Maltese food is seasonal and rustic, both our history and geography have made our gastronomy eclectic, allowing us to 'borrow' from Italian, Maghreb and other cuisines.

As a nation we are well known for having a 'sweet tooth' with wheat and sugar forming the backbone of our pastries. Therefore, MaltaPost's philatelic offering for PuMed 2020 portrays Maltese sweet delicacies. The first stamp depicts Biskuttini tar-Rahal or Rustic Biscuits. These traditional pastries consist of a unique blend of spices and aromatic herbs including ground cloves, caraway seeds and aniseed. They were sometimes prepared for special occasions such as christening parties. They are decorated with swirls of pink or blue icing and served with tea. Their aroma has come to be associated with quaint, old village bakeries.

Qaghaq tal-Gunglien (Biscuit rings with sesame seeds) are ring shaped biscuits made of flour with lemon /orange rind and a blend of aromatic spices with sesame seeds scattered on top. They are extremely popular with the locals and available at most bakeries and supermarkets.

Pasta Roza bil-Gewz tal-Indi (Coconut Lamington) has become a traditional sweet. It originates from Australia but Malta adapted it and given it a local flavour. Consisting of soft vanilla or butter cake, it is soaked in a strawberry syrup (as opposed to dipped in chocolate) and rolled in desiccated coconut. It is light and fluffy in texture and incredibly moist. You can't miss it on the counters of small village shops nestled under a veil of soft tulle!