As you drive around the island of Vis, you notice fig trees growing everywhere.
For a fig lover like me it’s paradise but unfortunately it wasn’t fig season when we were on the island!
Thanks heavens I found an excellent substitute……hib cake.
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Hib cake is a traditional fig cake from Vis. It is made from a mixture of chopped dried figs, herbal brandy and fennel. This mixture is kneaded into small flat cakes and left to dry in the sun for approximately ten days. A bay leaf and a sprigs of rosemary finish the cake. Many families store a few of the cakes so they can eat them on Christmas Eve and other festive ocasions with a glass of home made herbal brandy. I’m not sure I’d be able to keep it this long!
Though hib cake is from Vis, you can find the cakes throughout southern Croatia
On Vis, you will find the cake for sale at its own stall near the market on the waterfront and also at Issa, a shop selling local food and wine in Kut.
Don’t miss trying the other local treats that they sell. There’s small biscuits called cvitti that are baked for festive occasions such as weddings, baptisms, first communions, confirmations and Christmas and narancini which are similar to candied orange peel.
Do you like figs. Do you think you’d like hib cake?
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Other articles you may enjoy:
Vis: The Best Island in Croatia
4 of the Best Beaches on Vis
My Favourite Places to Eat on Vis
We love figs too! and have been seeing fig cake advertised in places that sell gourmet foods, but not fresh foods. M keeps on saying Yay – fig cake and me saying well it can’t be fresh. Now I know.
When you get to Vis Jan you’ll have to try it. Fresh figs are still in a world of their own but hib cake is delicious too!
I love fig and would probably like the hib cake (with minimal brandy), I’m so curious as to what it tastes like.
It tastes of dried figs Jean. There’s only a drop of brandy in it so I’m sure you’d love it!
Love figs, love cake ergo I would have to love hib cake 🙂
You’d definitely love it Paula! Great for when figs are out of season!
I love small food souvenirs like this, I haven’t tried it and it looks yummy!
I always buy food related products as souvenirs Noel. This one is delicious!
We love figs!!! And this adds to my desire to visit Croatia and spend some time there!
It’s definitely a great substitute for when figs aren’t in season Jackie. Croatia is well worth a visit!
I also love fresh figs and look forward to eating them while we are in Portugal. Hib cake sounds interesting with its mix of fennel and brandy and I’d love to try it, especially while travelling like you in Croatia!
I’m a fig lover too Anita so this fills a need when they’re not in season! You’ll have to head to Croatia one year!
I would be very curious to try hib cake. I am trying to imagine what the combination of flavors must be like! Very interesting!
The taste is predominately that of dried figs Betsy with a hint of the spices…Delicious!
I love figs and I’m sure hib cake would be an experience.
Hib Cake is a great alternative when figs are not in season Yasha.
I’d love to try the traditional fig cake from Vis. I wonder if Hib cake is exported–I’ll keep my eyes open.
I’m not sure if it’s exported or not Carole. It is also made in other parts of Croatia so you may be able to pick it up on your travels if you go to other areas of Croatia.
Is it sweet, the fennel and rosemary don’t seem to go with sweet fig.
The predominant taste is of the dried fig Rhonda with a hint of the brandy.I must admit the fennel is had to pick!
Delicious…
It definitely is delicious Lili