Sibiu Salami facts for kids

Sibiu Salami, also known as Salam de Sibiu, is a special type of salami from Romania. It's made with pork meat, pork fat, salt, and spices. In 2016, the European Union officially recognized Salam de Sibiu as a 'protected geographical indication' (PGI) product. This means it can only be made in certain areas following a traditional recipe.

The Story of Sibiu Salami

In 1885, an Italian man named Filippo Dozzi came to Romania. He worked as a bricklayer. Filippo moved with his wife near a quarry in a village called Poiana Țapului.

Besides building, Dozzi also loved making sausages. He noticed that the weather in Sinaia was perfect for making dry sausages. So, in 1910, Dozzi bought a building in Sinaia. It had a restaurant, a wine cellar, and a hotel. Here, he started his own company.

He began making salami, and it quickly became very popular. It was seen as a fancy, high-quality food. Dozzi first sold his sausage as salam de iarnă (winter salami). When he sent it to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it got a special stamp. This stamp said "Customs of Sibiu". That's how the product became known as Salam de Sibiu.

Before he passed away in 1943, Filippo Dozzi shared his secret recipe with his sons, Antonio and Giuseppe. They continued making the salami. Later, the government took over the company.

Around the same time, in 1922, another salami maker named Josef Theil opened a factory in Sibiu. He started making his own version called "The real Sibiu salami."

Sibiu Salami Grows Bigger

Between 1948 and 1954, the government took control of both companies. The state company continued making Sibiu Salami. They started sending it to other countries in the 1950s.

In 1963, the Sibiu factory officially registered the name "Salam de Sibiu." Over the years, more places started making Sibiu Salami. These included Bacău, Galați, and Salonta in 1975–1976.

In the 1980s, a lot of Sibiu Salami was sent abroad. About 90% of the salami made (around 40-50 tons each month) went to countries like Austria, West-Germany, Czechoslovakia, Israel, Belgium, Sweden, and the Soviet Union.

Today, Sibiu Salami is made in many places. These include Sinaia, Sibiu, Bacău, Călărași, Feldioara, and Filipeștii de Pădure. In 2014, over 3,000 tons of Sibiu Salami were produced!