The dales and hillocks that comprise the Zagreb Hills have since ancient times served as the flower and vegetable gardens of the big city on the plain. And the tradition is kept up, the inhabitants of the hamlets and villages of Prigorje ("this side of the mountain") still bringing to market baskets of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers, carefully tended in the manner of grandmamma. The village of Markuševec has always been particularly known for the cultivation of flowers and excellent homemade cakes that have together graced the tables of the capital.

With the souvenir "Sweet Posy of Zagreb" I wanted in the most direct possible way to conjure up something of the fresh feeling that the natural richness of the upland part of the town can offer at different times of the year. This unusual souvenir comes from still fresh and pure hills of Prigorje, from the lovingly tended gardens of Markuševec.

Candied flowers and petals, treated according to a special recipe, and completely safe and edible, can be used in a variety of imaginative ways, to decorate cakes large and small, and all kinds of sweet things, ice cream, sherbet, crèmes and fruit salads, cocktails, in fact, everything sweet that appeals to the eyes, palate and throat.

The people of Zagreb and all who are fond of our lovely city will be particularly happy at the idea of consuming a part of the Zagreb microcosm: a part of the earth and the sun and the stars that feed and shine down upon this select part of our planet.

Fuljatkov breg 32, Markuševec, Zagreb 10060; Tel./fax: 385 1 4574 519