Dairy products are the backbone of offer at Zagreb markets. Kumice, the old ladies who sell cheese and cream from nearby farms, are the symbol of this tradition. Their stalls showcase cheeses of different flavors and textures, but their foundation is always the same – high-quality homemade cow milk. Young cheese can be creamy, clumpy, curdy or prepared in molds, but it is always a refreshing and light meal, and an excellent base for spreads and fillings. After a few days, it becomes more compact and easier to slice but it remains of gentle taste and an ideal pairing for cold cuts, especially the Easter spread of ham, radish and spring onions. The local specialty is the cooked cow cheese, often elevated with chives or ground red pepper; it is soft, fresh and piquant all at once. The golden crust is a sign of smoking; smoked semi-hard cheese is a must on local platters. The assortment of cheeses from the market is a staple of Zagreb cuisine.

Trešnjevka market: a package of young cheese – 3 euro, a wheel of smoked cheese of 10kg – 10 euro