In addition to beautiful landscapes, our country also has a beautiful tradition. We are talking about četjenia, a traditional sweet made from sugar, which is made exclusively at a low temperature.
In the past, it was an opportunity to socialize and meet in the long and cold Bosnian nights.
This part of the rich BiH tradition was on the verge of extinction, when a group of enthusiasts dared to save the cetenia from oblivion.
The competitive note motivates a large number of people, so much thought is being given to protecting chetenia and everything related to it as an intangible heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina and as such it is included in the unique list of UNESCO.
Ćetenija is simple in ingredients but complicated in making. It requires multiple pairs of hands to pull the sugar dough through roasted flour, turning it into a wool-like paste. Coordinated teamwork is crucial; one wrong move and the paste can easily snap, BBC writes.
First, she explained, the flour is roasted until lightly browned. Then, sugar and lemon juice are heated together, and, when caramelised, shaped into a ring by hands greased with oil. There should be just enough lemon to give the paste the right consistency, but not so much as to make it break. While the sugar paste is still elastic, it is placed onto the roasted flour and shaped it into a thinner ring that’s repeatedly pulled until it becomes a fine floss. It is usually done by three to six people, mostly women, who sit around a sofra, a round, low table. The room must be cold so that the paste can be ‘flossed’ without breaking.
The process can take hours, so team members who get tired are often replaced by others. Meanwhile, other guests drink Bosnian coffee and sing traditional Bosnian songs. Once it has cooled down, ćetenija, which tastes like starchy candy floss, is cut in small pieces and served on small plates to the guests.
