Potica

Potica is the festive cake of Slovenia, a thin sheet of sweet leavened dough spread with a filling, most classically ground walnuts, and rolled up into a spiral before baking, so each slice shows a beautiful swirl. Made above all at Christmas and Easter and with dozens of fillings from tarragon to honey and poppy seed, it is the taste of Slovenian celebration.

What you actually see

• The walnut spiral - the classic ground-walnut filling rolled into the dough.
• The many fillings - tarragon, honey, poppy seed and more.
• The festive tradition - the cake of Christmas and Easter tables.
• The rolled shape - the spiral swirl in every slice.

When to go

Year-round in bakeries, though it is most traditional and abundant at Christmas and Easter. A slice with coffee is the way to try it.

Honest expectations

It is a festive, celebratory cake rather than an everyday one, so it is most abundant around the holidays. The walnut version is the classic, though the tarragon one surprises visitors. Homemade beats most shop-bought versions.

Nearby

Bakeries across Slovenia sell it; it belongs on the festive table.