We Create Quality Rakija from Macedonian Plums, Apples, and Grapes

The Kajak.mk team is excited to introduce you to Stefan, the man behind the new "Careva" distillery, the place where the new flavor of roasted rakija made from grapes, plums, and apples is born.

Before we share the story of the distillery, we want to highlight that the rakija is now available in the Kajak.mk store, and you can order it with just one click HERE.

Stefan says that his family has been involved in agriculture for a long time, especially in viticulture and fruit growing. Their work experience motivated them to establish a farming business where they would sell apples and grapes as fresh fruits. However, due to low prices and unstable market placement, in 2023, they decided to process the fruit into a final product.

Today, they have a registered distillery under the name "Careva," which was named after their oldest grandmother.

Grandmother Careva was the eldest housekeeper in the home where three brothers and their wives lived. Although Careva had no children of her own, she constantly took care of and contributed to the family, which is why the distillery is named in her honor.

The distillery is located in Klimeshtani, an Ohrid region known for producing high-quality grapes and fruits, where the natural conditions are ideal for fruit cultivation. Situated at an altitude of 700 meters, this area has naturally acidic soil, which contributes to the production of high-quality rakija.

The Dimitrieski family cultivates 25,000 m² of land, where they have planted grapes of the Župljanka, Hamburg, Rekaciteli, and Prokupac varieties, as well as plums of the Stelnja and Lepotica varieties, and apples from the Golden and Red Delicacies, Aydaret, and Jonagold varieties.

The distillery produces several types of rakija, including: grape, plum, and apple rakija; both white and yellow varieties. The white rakijas are 50 degrees, while the yellow ones range from 40-43 degrees. The main recipe is the old, traditional one used by my grandfathers to produce rakija, but we have also added our own innovations that contribute to the taste and quality of the rakija.

The taste and quality of the rakija are also reflected in the awards we have won at an international competition in Kavadarci, where producers from Serbia, Bulgaria, and Slovenia participated. The grape rakija won a gold medal, while the plum rakija earned silver and bronze, says Stefan.

Their vision is to improve and create Macedonian products that will be synonymous with quality, tradition, and a trademark for Ohrid and Macedonia. They have also established a winery, where they expect wine production to begin this year.

You can order their products directly to your home address; view all of them with one click HERE.