Raspberry

Serbia is one of the world’s leading raspberry exporters, and Arilje is called the capital of raspberries – “red gold”.

A shrub with upright, prickly canes that live for two years – in the first they grow, in the second they flower and fruit. The leaves are compound, with whitish hairs underneath. Its white flowers are popular with bees, and the fruit is a red, aromatic aggregate fruit made up of tiny drupelets. Raspberries are eaten fresh, frozen and made into juices and jams, and the leaves are brewed like tea.

Significance in the country

Raspberry growing in hilly western Serbia has brought prosperity to many villages; most of the harvest goes frozen to Western Europe, and here the raspberry is called “crveno zlato” – red gold.

Where it grows

Mainly in hilly western and central Serbia: around Arilje, Ivanjica, Kosjerić, Valjevo, Krupanj and Brus, and in Šumadija.

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