Honey from thyme
It is the most famous product of Kythira and this is due to its taste, because it is produced from thyme which also gives the nicest aroma compared to other honeys. The Tsar of Russia Alexios I exclusively chose honey from Kythera!
More generally, honey as human food is one of the most valuable, nutritious and healthiest foods. Hippocrates and all the doctors of antiquity recommended it as a medicine in many cases. In Kythira, among other things, there is the Beekeeping Cooperative of Kythira to support producers, improve the product, correct standardization and increase production. You can buy certified honey from the Beekeeping Cooperative of Kythera
, or from the producers of the island.
Oil nuts
Whoever tries them for the first time becomes their fanatic, and this because of their deliciousness and nutritional value. The variety of foods with which nuts are deliciously combined is impressive, from dipping in drinks such as tea, sage, milk, to salad or even plain. In Kythira you will find them everywhere, either from the island’s bakeries who are also their producers, or in grocery stores or Super Markets.
Semprevives – They live forever
Sembrevives means they live forever, they are also called “Amaranth of Kythera” We find them perched on steep rocks, as if the difficulty to collect them is rewarded even with the sense of eternity they symbolize. When leaving the island, don’t forget to take with you, so that you can keep the memory of Kythira alive forever.
Olive oil
Olive oil, the blessed fruit of the olive tree, the symbol of peace, is the main product in Kythira. Its cultivation has a history of thousands of years throughout the Mediterranean basin. In Kythira you will see large areas of olive groves everywhere. The olive variety that thrives, due to the good climate, is Koroneiki. A cup with whole olive fruits (1450 BC), found in a well in the palace of Zakros in Eastern Crete, shows that since the Minoan period they used olive fruits in their diet.
Traditional sweets of Kythira
The gastronomic tradition of Kythira includes a variety of traditional sweets that stand out for their taste and simplicity. Xerotigana, thin strips of dough fried and drizzled with honey and cinnamon, are served mainly at celebrations and weddings. Almond cakes, aromatic and crunchy, are made with almonds and rose water, reminiscent of the elegance of Kythira hospitality. There is also no shortage of kourabiedes, often decorated with walnuts or cloves, which are offered at celebrations and treats.
A special place is held by rosedes, sweets based on almonds, flower water and sugar, wrapped in thin pastry and decorated elaborately, ideal for formal occasions. Also, pastitseto, a small stuffed sweet with jam or spoon sweet in crispy dough, is a favorite choice for those who want to try something special.
Koumara, a bite-sized sweet that speaks directly to the mouth and your taste buds.
Melonia, very small delicious honeyed sweets, made from the best ingredients: thyme honey, almond, flour, pure virgin olive oil.
Boutino, the “sponge cake” of Kythera. It is a type of sweet bread that has its roots in the British Empire. It is made with stale bread dipped in fresh milk, plenty of grated lemon, cinnamon, sugar, roasted almonds, butter, eggs, cognac and raisins. It is traditionally served on the first Sunday of Carnival, mainly in Chora.
Each sweet carries within it history, tradition and the love of the Kytherians for hospitality and the art of taste.