On many streams we can still see the old mills which are also characteristic of Ozren, some have even been renovated and work. Here we name the most important streams and rivers that are flowing into other rivers or lakes nearby.
Jadrina, Prenja, Krušički potok, Bukovica, Duboki potok, Skakavac, Osojnička rijeka, Paklenica, Rakovac, Velika rijeka, Jablanica ,...
Thermo-mineral water complex “Terme Ozren” been proven to assist healing rheumatism, psoriasis, sinus problems, and many other diseases, well known facts by all who attend regularly during the summer time. There are stories of older people that some sources of drinking water on the mountain are miraculous.
Brandy
One of the symbols of the tradition of this area is making a homemade brandy, most frequently made of plum (Šljivovica) and other natural spirits made of pear, quince, apples, sometimes with the addition of medicinal or aromatic herbs, or liqueurs such as made with walnut or honey.
Every rural household whose tradition is brandy distilling has its own orchard, vessel - drums and barrels, then brandy still by which the distillation of fermented fruit pomace is being made into famous Balkan spirit.
Brandy of this region is being produced in the intensity of 42% alc / vol, but often we make homemade brandy even stronger (usually between 50 and 60% alc / vol), while the double distilled brandy is over 60% alc / vol).
Our old traditional recipes inspired us to revive the old days when serving brandy and honey brandy was perceived as a festive event. Our use of brandy comes along with having a coffe in the morning, before the lunch – for appetite, after the lunch for better digest, in the evening for relaxation after an exhousting day, having received good news, for welcoming our guests, and especially we drink our brandy during festivals, traditional and family celebrations. The custom was to knock cups for a tost with the word "u zdravlje" (for a good health) - as indeed a small glass of Ozrenska brandy per day is a good recipe for long life.
Ozren honey
Why is honey at this location so healthful? Why is beekeeping so old tradition here, and where from we inherited this knowledge? Abundance of nectariferous herbs and forests, fruit and berries, medical herbs, coniferous trees, acacia trees (L. Robinia pseudoacacia), heather (L.Calluna vulgaris) and many other species out of rich Ozren biodiversity, all located fare from industrial plants. Area of Ozren has represented all types of honey according to the type of natural grazing, the honey in May when the main grazing are heather and wild herbs, fruits and dandelion to the highest quality of acacia, meadow and pine forest honey.
It should be borne in mind that our ancestors - the ancient Slavs, very well knew medicinal and nutrient content of honey and that knowledge on beekeeping among them was widespread. The point is that the Slavic nations represented unique beekeeping civilization.
Ancient Slavs and honey
We shall underline that for ancient Slavs honey was the basic food ingradient. Honey was the best food and drink. In addition to written and oral evidence for this claim, the evidence is found in the language. Slavic language words food, bread, satiety derived from honey as the basis of life of our ancestors. Once the honey that bees collect in the honey-comb was called Hlebine (the bred - hleb). Hence the word bread. From pollen - honeycomb, mixed with water, the Slavs had been preparing a major, daily dish that they called "hlebovo", where the name was later transferred to bread made of wheat.
Made of honey and honey only, our ancestors used to prepare joyful and healing drinks honey liqueur. Russian Orthodox Church from the beginning banned all beverages, except honey liqueur. The Orthodox Church passed the special Canonic law against the beer, and vodka has been declared as impure drinking, which is not from God.
Beekeeping school
You have an interest in beekeeping? At the Brezici plateau on Ozren is organised a beekeeping school run by family Živković where you can spend vacation while learning (by doing) on beekeeping helped by this family. Any other beekeeper would be eager to share his/her knowledge and provide advice about this interesting old tradition, abandoned by youngsters. World famous cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries base their most expensive products on honey. Beekeepers say that if a human would be fed by propolis, the lifespan would last about 500 years, and if the world would experience disappearance of bees caused by some tragic event - our entire civilization would become extinct within 4 years!
Smoked Ozren cheese
This local cheese specialty is usually served as starter along with sausages and other smoked meet and comes well with our local spirit rakija. This cheese is made of skimmed cow (or sheep) milk with some fine chopped garlic or a few drops of squeezed garlic juice.
Making - the milk is filtered and left to coagulate, after that cheese is colanded, re-kneaded, salted and enriched with garlic flavour. The pate is formed into a small flat or conical disc and placed into a smoking chamber to be smoked. The smoking process takes approximately 7 – 10 days, where the smoke is produced out of beach with some spruce branches for enriched aroma. Smoked Ozren cheese is authentic local product of the area, this hard cheese with distinctive flavour and aroma is produced by using traditional simple recipe passed from one generation to another. It is often sent to all corners of the world where people from Ozren live today, as the most striking gift and unmistakably reminiscent of the homeland and origin.
Smoked meet
Bred, vegetables and and meat “under the lid”
The old recipes used to be created around the hearth as the central room of all traditional Ozren houses. This is where the fire was maintained for cooking and heating, the place with the metal lever extended by chain with a cooking pot hanged on and the most frequently used space during the every day life. Preparing food “under the lid” would require to put all the meal ingredients (meat, spices and vegetables, or dough) in the ceramic or metal casserole, put the metal lid on the top and cover it all with still burning ash. So baked bread is delicious on its own and you can still find it in some Ozren households. Meat and vegetables when they are placed under baking lid are actually cooked in its own sauce, so we get healthy, juicy and delicious meal as all the juices and vapors remain in practically hermetically closed vessel. Cooking is easy, without a haste, while recipe and technique are ingeniously simple.
Old crafts were used to produce vessels for this kind of food preparation - pottery, using one-handed potter round typical of this region (in Serbia, for example. use ". kick pottery wheel), and the blacksmith trade, which in the late 70 'years was shut down in Ozren.
Medicinal and aromatic herbs
The entire region of Balkan is well known after its exceptionally rich biodiversity, abundance of rivers and lakes, rare animals as well as endemic species. Ozren is representing the same pattern. Abundance of clean water and air, appropriate altitude and moderate continental climate are perfect environment for rich flora and fauna to flourish at this mountain. The area is rich with medical herbs and pollen rich flora, as well as deciduous and coniferous trees.
People in this region have a centuries old tradition in the collection of wild medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) due to its richness in different landscapes and ecosystems. One of the most diverse ecosystems in Europe, with pristine forests, fertile agriculture, ample fresh water sources, and a rich mosaic of flora and fauna Bosnia and Herzegovina has an estimated 3,572 plant species, subspecies, and varieties; some 3,000 species of algae; and 3,000 to 5,000 species of fungi and lichens. Considering the number of species and the relatively small land area, Bosnia and Herzegovina is among the five richest countries in Europe in terms of species density and diversity. The country has a significant number of endemic plant species, an estimated 500. On average, 74 percent of fungi species from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List for Europe can be found in Bosnia and Herzegovina forest ecosystems.
Hippocrates: Let your food be medicine and your medicine be food.
Teucrium montanum (Serb. Trava Iva) is the simbol of health that became well known local rhyme: “Trava Iva – turns dying into living”, and the symbol of life endurance in hard environment as this tiny herb efficiently keeps scarce soil on the bare stone. It is used to cure many diseases, especially diseases of the digestive and respiratory organs. This herb enters as an integral part of the tea for stomach, liver, gallbladder, against anemia and other problems. We have to protect this symbol of Ozren because it is under threat to be destroyed if we continue with uncontrolled harvesting!
Achilea millefolium (Serb. Hajdučka trava) Botanical name is given by the Greek hero Achilles-Achillea, and has a meaning that gives strength, according to the Greek mythology centaur Heiron was heeling Achilles wounds by using this herb. This herb is also well known for its healing properties and is a favorite among our people. Harvesting is during the period when the flower opens and blooms throughout the summer, flower and leaf have medicinal properties and are used in tea form. Provides beneficial effects on the treatment of hemorrhoids, diseases of the veins, of the digestive tract and kidneys, as well as the regulation of sugar. Yarrow entered a bitter teas, teas for cleansing, increased bile secretion, to normalize the metabolism of tea and tea for tranquility.
Marrubium vulgare Horehound (Srb. Macina trava) is a herb that can be used to enrich vine and spirits. One of the oldest known medicinal plants which has been in use since the time of ancient Egypt, used for infertility in women. For women who strive to become pregnant, this herb can help. It is one of the first class of medicinal plants for treating lung diseases, conditions after the flu, the initial stages of tuberculosis. Successfully used to treat nerve diseases, respiratory catarrh, coughs, catarrh of the stomach, jaundice and women's diseases. Excellent in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and other lung diseases, helps with pain in the stomach and heals the liver.
Hypericum perforatum or St. John's wort (Serb. Kantarion)
St. John's wort, has long been known for its manifold activities and is a favorite herb in the nation. It is used to treat lung, stomach cramps and stomach, blood clotting, kidney, liver, spleen and bladder. Especially recommended for uncontrolled urination. Mixed with other medicinal plants is a great tool for treating cough and asthma.
Other well known medicinal herbs represented at Ozren mountain are Dandelion, Mint, Butcher's broom, Evening Primrose, Lemon Balm, Nettle, Hellebores, Snowdrop, Burdock, Rosehip, Saffron, Summer savory, Great Yellow Gentian, Chamomile, Coltsfoot, Plantain, Ivy, Common chicory, Milk thistle, Wild pansy, Iceland moss, Juniper, and many, many more….walk, learn, collect and prepare your own mix of fruit, salad, or cup of tea.
The best mushrooms that one can collect here are - Peppery milk-cap, The Parasol Mushroom, Cepe, Caesar's Mushroom, Chanterelle, Black trumpet, Truffle (yes – we do have them too!) and many more. The best are fresh, the specialty is pickled mushrooms, very tasty are dried mushrooms too. We do not recommend freezing them.
Ozren is covered with deciduous and coniferous forests and orchards. Significantly represented are the species that have healing properties or honey like fruits, mostly plums, pears, apples, quinces, cherries and others like black locust, black and white pine, hawthorn, wild chestnut, elder, birch, hazel, willow in the river valleys and alder, while the melliferous heather colors the slopes of Gostilj and Okolište in the spring. The largest area of Ozren are covered with pine, beech and oak forests.
