Shija e Veriut [Taste of the North] is a registered promotional brand for products from the northern Albanian municipalities of Vau Dejës, Pukë, and Fushë Arrëz. Inspired by best-practice experiences of territorial promotion from the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy, it aims at promoting the agri-food and touristic offers of this region and fostering partnerships between farmers, producers, restaurant owners, associations, as well as other stakeholders.

The central pillar of the agri-food chain in these vast mountain areas has long been goat and sheep breeding. Even today, small, family-run farms and laboratories of the area follow up on the precepts of tradition, making the best of the resources offered by local pastures and forests. In particular, cheese production methods preserve a tight bond with the mountain scenery and result in typical characteristics and organoleptic properties.

The area offers a range of other productions too. The local pine and oak tree forests are particularly apt to the growth of mushrooms (Boletus edulis above all), as well as a variety of berries and fruits (blueberry and dogwood are the area’s “royals”). Raki (a typical fruit brandy of the Balkans), jams, compotes, and dried fruit are the tasty outcome of such riches. Last but not least, honey is really a thing here. Wildflower, chestnut, and thyme honey are produced with a vast array of nuances by passionate beekeepers.

It comes without saying that trying such delicacies on the spot gives the whole matter an even better taste, thanks to remarkable natural beauties and the renowned welcoming attitude of the inhabitants of these valleys. Indeed, around here the status of ‘guest’ amounts to a sacred-like one, part of the proud and peculiar cultural and traditional heritage characteristic of the so-called ‘Albanian Alps’. This website is a compendium of agri-food, natural, and touristic offers from the areas of Vau Dejës, Pukë, and Fushë Arrëz. It is thus at disposal for anyone who wants to know more about this off-the-beaten-track region, from curious ‘foodies’ to those interested in exploring new places without the need of transcontinental flights and related jet-lags.

Shija e Veriut was created thanks to the fruitful cooperation of local stakeholders within the framework of the project “Alliance for the Development and Promotion of Family Farming in the North of Albania”, implemented by Volontari nel Mondo RTM and financed by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development – AICS.