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How the Adriatic Tuna Conquered Japan

Did you know that the Adriatic tuna outperforms shipbuilding and even the entire Croatian agriculture in terms of export value? Our blue-tailed beauty is the Croatian export gold standard, all thanks to the friendly people on the other side of the planet who literally cannot get enough of it.

A Love Worth 40 Million Euros

Almost the entire annual catch of Adriatic tuna is exported to Japan, and conservative estimates say that more than EUR 40 million is earned annually, making Croatia the third largest exporter of tuna in the European Union. The Japanese have an almost fetishistic love for Adriatic tuna, which flourished during the Yugoslavia era. However, due to the relatively low permitted export quotas, only the most skilled and persistent suppliers were able to obtain them. With the increase in quotas, the export balance increased significantly, and the Adriatic tuna became the favorite guest in restaurants all over Japan. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono perhaps best summed up the Japanese love for the Adriatic bluefin tuna: “Japan highly appreciates the quality of tuna grown in Croatia. It has become an integral part of the Japanese cuisine we call ‘washoku’, which has been on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage since 2013. Japan and Croatia are firmly connected by tuna, which we Japanese love and appreciate very much.” And the price is so high that tuna accounts for more than 50% of total exports from Croatia to Japan!

Bluefin Treasury of Health

Without tuna, sushi, sashimi, maki rolls, and other wonders of Japanese cuisine are unthinkable, but not all tuna is the same. The bluefin Atlantic tuna, whose family includes our Adriatic tuna, is in all respects superior to its less noble but more numerous and cheaper yellowfin relatives. Its meat is tastier, and its nutritional values are simply incomparable. It is a fantastic source of protein, minerals, B-group vitamins, and essential omega-3 fatty acids, and has less fat than beef, pork, and poultry. It is extremely rich in selenium, an antioxidant that helps maintain liver health and prevent cancer and heart disease. Raw tuna, as it is preferred in Japan, retains all its health benefits, so it is no surprise that the Japanese lead the world in terms of longevity.

The Best of Japan in the Heart of the Croatian Adriatic

Due to the optimal salinity of the sea, the ideal climate, and the richness of the fish it feeds, the Adriatic tuna is unsurpassed in quality, and the Japanese are ready to pay for the quality: capital specimens of tuna, namely, reach prices of hundreds of euros per kilogram on the market there. However, although more than 90% of the catch of Adriatic tuna goes to the Land of the Rising Sun, something still remains for us Croats, and the best and most fresh pieces are waiting for you in the Adriatic Sushi & Oyster bar, where you can taste all the irresistible tuna specialties that made distant Japan irrevocably fall in love with our Adriatic.

Every day, sushi, sashimi, maki, and nigiri—the Adriatic tuna in all its most attractive forms—await you in our restaurant. Book your table and discover all its charms!
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