Greek misspelling of the English word for “mammoth”, to designate large-sized olives. Many people think consequently that this is a separate type of olive.
Greek Food
Megaritiki Olives
Megaritiki Olives are a small to medium-sized olive variety native to Greece. They are grown in Attica for green olives, black olives and oil. For green olives, the olives are harvested earlier, then cured in brine, then packed in either oil or brine. For black olives, the olives are let get very ripe, then they…
Nafplion Green Olives
Nafplion Green Olives are small to medium-sized olives. They are cracked before being cured in brine. They are sold in brine, oil, and oregano or in brine with lemon slices and peppers. The olives are firm with a salty and slightly sour taste. Nafplion is a seaside town 150 km south-west of Athens, Greece.
Pita
When we think of Pita varieties, our choices are usually white or whole wheat. Truth is, there’s a few more varieties than that of this Eastern Mediterranean flat bread which started becoming popular in West in the 1980s: there’s Greek, Turkish, Lebanese, Egyptian, Israeli, Syrian, Indian… and more. The Pita we that we associate with…
Sardeles Pastes
Sardeles Pastes is a Greek appetizer. It is salted sardines served and eaten raw. First thing in the morning, the heads are cut off freshly-caught sardines. The skin and tail is left on. The sardines are then put straight into layers of salt. They are ready to eat in the evening. Sardeles Pastes are served…
Thasos Olives
Thasos Olives are Greek prepared olives made from Thrubolea olives. They are made on Thasos (aka Thasou), in the northern Aegean Sea. The olives are harvested when fully black and wrinkled. They are dry-cured, then packed in olive oil. Thasos Olives have a strong, rich flavour and are chewy and meaty.
Thrubolea Olives
Thrubolea Olives are grown on Crete, Thasos and a few other Aegean Sea Islands. The olives are small to medium-sized with a small point at one end. When fully ripe, they go completely black. They used for oil and table olives. Thasos (or “Thruba”) Style Black Olives are made from these.
Tsakiste Olives
Tsakiste Olives made usually made from the Megaritiki cultivar of olives, though sometimes they are made from Nafplion Olives. The olives are harvested when green. They are cracked (actually slitted) before being cured in brine. After curing, they are marinated with herbs, often also with garlic and lemon wedges. They are made in the Attica…
Volos Olives
Volos is a style of prepared Greek black olive made from Conservolia olives. The large, oval olives are allowed to fully ripen to a deep purple on the tree. They are marinated in oil. Vólos is a city in Magnisia, Thessaly, Eastern Greece.
Xinomavro Grapes
Xinomavro Grapes are particularly grown in the central Greek Macedonian areas of Naoussa, Goumenissa and Amyndeo. They are also grown in Ossa, Ioannina, Rapsani, Trikomo, Siatista, Velvendo, Magnisia, Kastoria and Trikala, and on Mount Athos . They are used used for dark red, almost purplish wine, such as “Naoussa”, made in the Macedonia area of…
Zante Grapes
Zante Grapes are very small grapes. Usually only a maximum of ¼ inch (½ cm) wide, they are about the size of a pea — or “pearl”, as the marketers today are saying (accompanied by the phrase “jewel-like” as well.) Their purple skin is so dark it is sometimes seems almost black. They grow in…