Rab cake facts for kids
| Type | Cake |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Croatia |
| Region or state | Rab |
| Main ingredients | Almonds and Maraschino liqueur |
The Rab cake (which is called Rapska torta in Croatian) is a special cake from Croatia. It comes from the island of Rab in the Adriatic Sea. This yummy cake is mostly made with almonds and a sweet cherry drink called Maraschino liqueur. It is often shaped like a spiral, but you can find it in other shapes too!
The Story of Rab Cake
How the Cake Began
The story says that the Rab cake was first made a very long time ago, in the year 1177. It was served to Pope Alexander III when he visited Rab. He was there to make the Assumption Cathedral in Rab a holy place.
Nuns from the monastery of Saint Anthony first baked this cake. Later, monks called Benedictines from the monastery of Saint Andrew also made it.
A Special Treat
For a long time, Rab cake was a fancy treat. Only rich families and important people called aristocrats on Rab island could enjoy it. This was when Rab was part of the Venetian Republic, a powerful state in Italy.
Today, people usually make Rab cake for big celebrations. These include weddings and baptisms. It is also a very popular souvenir for tourists. This is because it stays fresh for about two months!
Rab Cake on a Stamp
Did you know the Rab cake is so famous it was even on a postage stamp? In July 2020, the Croatian Post put the Rab cake on a Croatian 8.60 kuna stamp.
