With the support of EU funding, the Olecko dairy in Poland’s Warmińsko-Mazurskie region is producing the sweet cream fudges it is famous for, the old-fashioned way.
Preserving the sweet heritage of Poland’s Warmińsko-Mazurskie region
- 17 June 2020
It is a story of this land. We use local ingredients – milk, cream, milk powder – that are our ingredients from our suppliers and our cows. This is a fudge candy from our region.
For many Poles, the mere mention of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie region will entice a craving for the traditional milk candies long produced here. To preserve this sweet regional icon, the OSM Olecko dairy plant, in Olecko, launched an effort to produce the cream fudge the old-fashioned way – without preservatives or artificial flavours.
With the help of this EU-funded project, the company was able to set up production and create a candy capable of competing with the array of other sugary treats currently on the market.
A commitment to tradition
The project leverages Olecko’s many years of experience and candy expertise. Although the company hasn’t produced the Krowka candies since the 1970s, old recipes were dusted off and enhanced with modern technology and methods.
It all starts with the fudge candy mass being brought to a boil. Then, when the water and cream evaporate, the syrup is added. Next, once the mass hardens, it is poured onto the cooling table where it stays for 30 minutes before being cut into squares and put into the roller. Here, the candy is rolled into strips, hand cut, and individually wrapped.
The result is a candy that is true to its heritage, yet offers an extended shelf-life, improved taste, and an appearance and consistency that appeals to today’s taste buds.
The story of a little cow
Krowka, which means ‘little cow’, is a famous Polish fudge, semi-soft milk toffee candy. It is one of the most popular confections in Poland and can be found worldwide. The candies are produced by a number of different companies, with most coming wrapped in a white-and-yellow paper featuring a picture of a cow. Although available in different variations, the original recipe typically calls for milk, sugar, butter, cream, and vanilla flavouring.
The Olecko dairy was founded in 1927 and has been producing milk, butter, cheeses and other dairy products ever since.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Cream fudge Candy from Olecko” is EUR 171 384 (PLN 734 910), with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 69 654 (PLN 298 684) through the “Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship” Regional Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Support to enterprises and innovation”.