When people talk about Istrian flavours, the conversation usually starts with olive oil, wine, truffles or prosciutto. Hot sauce rarely makes the list.
Yet, hidden among the hills near Koromačno, there’s a small family farm that’s proving Istria has another side—one that’s bold, fiery and full of character. Welcome to Forto Hot Sauce. Whether you’re someone who puts chilli on everything or simply enjoys discovering local producers, this experience offers something refreshingly different from the usual wine tastings and olive oil tours.
It All Starts in the Greenhouse
Before tasting a single drop of hot sauce, you’ll walk through the greenhouses where everything begins. Rows of colourful chilli peppers grow just a few kilometres from the Adriatic, thriving in the unique combination of Istrian soil, sea air and plenty of sunshine. It’s hard to believe that some of the world’s hottest peppers are growing here, surrounded by olive trees and vineyards. What makes the visit especially interesting is hearing how it all started. The Forto story didn’t begin with a big business plan. It started with a small number of chilli plants, plenty of curiosity and a family willing to experiment until they created recipes they were genuinely proud of. Today, they grow more than thirty different varieties of chilli peppers and continue producing their sauces in small batches, right here in eastern Istria.
This Isn’t Just About Heat
One of the biggest misconceptions about hot sauce is that it’s all about making food as spicy as possible. It isn’t. During the tasting, it quickly becomes clear that every sauce has its own personality. Some are fruity, others smoky, some build their heat slowly, while others make themselves known almost immediately. The focus isn’t on who can handle the hottest sauce—it’s on understanding how different chilli varieties create completely different flavours. Even visitors who normally avoid spicy food often leave surprised. Starting with the milder sauces makes it easy to appreciate the flavours before the heat gradually builds, and there’s no pressure to try anything beyond your comfort zone.
The Story Behind Every Bottle
One of the nicest parts of the experience is meeting the people behind the brand. Instead of a scripted presentation, it feels much more like being welcomed into someone’s home. You hear about the challenges of growing chillies in Istria, the countless recipes that never made it into a bottle and the patience required to create sauces that balance flavour and heat rather than simply chasing Scoville numbers. It’s also fun discovering where the names come from. Many of Forto’s sauces are inspired by old Labin dialect words, giving each bottle a connection to the region it comes from. It’s a small detail, but one that makes the experience feel unmistakably local.
More Than a Tasting
By the end of the visit, you’ll probably realise this isn’t really about hot sauce. It’s about passion. About seeing how Petrović family transformed an unusual idea into one of Istria’s most original food brands. It’s easy to leave with a new appreciation for how much work goes into every bottle—from growing the peppers to finding the right balance of flavours and bottling everything by hand. Of course, there’s a good chance you’ll leave with a bottle or two as well.
Who Will Enjoy This Experience?
This experience isn’t only for chilli enthusiasts. If you enjoy meeting local producers, discovering small family businesses and tasting products you won’t find in every supermarket, you’ll feel right at home. It’s also a great choice if you’ve already done a few wine or olive oil tastings and want to experience a different side of Istrian gastronomy. And don’t worry if you’re not someone who loves extremely spicy food. The tasting is designed to introduce different flavours and heat levels gradually, making it enjoyable even for complete beginners.
A Different Taste of Istria
It’s easy to assume that every food experience in Istria revolves around truffles or wine. Forto proves otherwise. This is one of those places that reminds you the best local producers are often the ones you never expected to find. A family greenhouse, a handful of chilli plants that turned into an award-winning brand, and an experience that’s as much about people as it is about food. If you’re looking for something genuinely different during your stay in Rabac, this might just be the hottest recommendation in eastern Istria.
Little Book Notes
Don’t arrive expecting a competition to see who can handle the hottest chilli. Come curious instead.
Ask your local guide Stefan, the founder, all questions, taste everything in order and pay attention to how each sauce changes rather than how spicy it is. You’ll leave understanding why Forto has become one of Istria’s most talked-about artisan food producers—and you’ll probably find yourself wondering how chilli peppers ended up feeling so perfectly at home in Istria.
