Within the convent of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Potoci near Mostar, the first olive oil tasting room in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has been opened under the name “Paxa House” – which translates as “House of Peace.” This unique space is conceived as a place of encounter between nature, tradition, and sustainable development, but also as a new stop on the future Olive Oil Route through Herzegovina.
The tasting room will not only serve for sampling high-quality domestically produced olive oils but also as an exhibition and sales space for various local products from small producers. Visitors will be able to taste and purchase olive oil that is not available in standard retail chains, which makes this project additionally valuable for the development of rural tourism.
The project manager, Dajana Dujmovic from the convent, emphasized that the idea originated from the constant inquiries of people seeking domestic olive oil and wanting to know more about its healing properties and quality. Through “Paxa House,” they aim to educate visitors about health, nature, agriculture, and the importance of supporting local communities.
Support for the project was also given by representatives of international organizations, the non-governmental sector, and domestic institutions. Mladen Todorovic from the “Green & Healthy BiH” initiative stated that the tasting room will be an important meeting and resting place for all those traveling between Sarajevo and Mostar, offering an authentic experience of the Herzegovinian region.
The opening of this house is also considered the first step in the implementation of the “Olive Oil Route through Herzegovina” project, within which twelve checkpoints are planned to promote domestic oils. The director of the Federal Agro-Mediterranean Institute in Mostar, Marko Ivankovic, emphasized that a request has already been sent to Brussels for the protection of the geographical origin of Herzegovinian extra virgin olive oil, which would make it only the second product from BiH with this designation.
The opening of the first such house in the country confirms the potential of Herzegovina as a region with a favorable climate for olive growing, but also as an attractive destination for the development of agrotourism. The project has the potential to enrich the local economy, preserve tradition, and connect communities through a culture of joint work and healthy values.