Gourmet products local specialties and wines Crete

The Dimitriadis family has been growing olives and producing oil for 6 generations. Today, they take us through their vast estate to discover the cultivation and production of olives and organic olive oil. The tour starts at the mill, followed by a documentary film and a tasting. The production process takes place in the family's premises in the village of Astrika. A warm welcome and delicious olive oil, all in respect of Cretan traditions and the environment. Store. Good address.

Overlooking the village of Kounavi near Katalagari, the Stilianou vineyard is curled according to organic standards respecting nature and the local Cretan tradition. By awakening nature, the Cretan sun increases the power of the shoots grown on the mountain vineyards, which are refreshed by Eole, the god of winds. Stilianou wines are produced in a new modern cellar, it is a limited production with each bottle numbered. A nice gift idea to bring back in your suitcases.

This delicatessen, established for 40 years, sells dried fruits, Greek ground coffee, pastries, chocolates, spices... We particularly recommend this address for herbal teas from Crete: diktamon, mountain tea, chamomile, etc., and for fine herbs: thyme, oregano... The products are of very good quality and not more expensive than elsewhere. The loukoums are excellent: scented with rose, bergamot and other intoxicating essences, they are filled with almond chips... A good idea for a gift to bring back!

The covered market of Hania was built in 1911 and inaugurated by Elefterios Venizelos himself in 1913, on the occasion of the events that took place that year to celebrate the annexation of Crete to Greece. The market is well worth a visit, although it has lost some of its charm with the installation of many tourist shops. You can still buy fish, cheese, spices, and Cretan souvenirs. The weather is cool, which is nice for lunch or a stroll.

The 1866 market is a must in Heraklion, with its spicy perfumes and daily effervescence. Unfortunately, cheap souvenir stalls are beginning to proliferate, as well as clothing shops and leather merchants' stalls. You will find many typical products, fruits, flowers, oil and olives, soaps, groceries, bakeries, fishmonger, gyros, pharmacy, taverns and Cretan food. Push up to the Membo Fountain, its water is said to grant wishes.

The monks of the Toplou monastery produce one of the best wines of the island (especially the white one). You can buy it in some supermarkets and in the monastery store. Don't miss to visit the cellar where it is vinified, the monks are equipped with highly modern facilities! Their raki and organic olive oil are also excellent quality products. The region of Sitia is indeed one of the most important wine producing areas of Crete.

The best ice creams and sorbets in town, prepared with fresh cow or goat milk and seasonal fruit! To have an ice cream, a Cretan baklava-style dessert, a delicious lightning bolt filled with vanilla ice cream, a fruit tart, drink an orangeade or an excellent coffee, here is a shady terrace, frequented by locals and Greek visitors but unknown to tourists. There is a second address at 51 Palaiologou Street, near the Rimondi Fountain, in the old part of Rethymnon.

The famous bakery of Mr. Vasilis Kormoranos was one of the first in the village. On its small outdoor terrace you can enjoy good home-made pastries, but also, just next door and opposite, in the second room, a large choice of small menus for lunch or dinner. In a charming little alleyway, you can discover all the authenticity of the old towns of Crete. Feeling a little hungry? Try the sfakia pie, a cheese cake filled with honey covered in dripping honey and served hot as you like... a delight!

The Tamiolakis area is located near the village Houdetsi, 20 km south of Heraklion, in the Viticole wine region (the tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis is 12 km away). Organic vineyards are spread over 13 acres and also include a small cellar. In addition to the characteristic varieties of Peza (kotsifali, mandilaria, vilana), there are also: vidiano, dafni, plyto, thrapsathiri and Muscat of Spina, but also foreign varieties such as: Syrah, Merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and Sauvignon white to complement the mixed concept of the domain. Guided tour in excellent French on reservation.

The Avli grocery store (consumer goods store) is an exclusive shop in Rethymnon, displaying exceptional food and drinks from small producers in Greece and especially in Crete. In this shop you can discover high quality gastronomic and wine products! You can find virgin olive oil, olive oil flavoured with rosemary and herbs or spices, charcuterie as well as other famous local products such as raki, honey and drinks. Varied tastings..

This new pastry café is a sweet treat, with its pastel velvet armchairs and timeless atmosphere. It is one of the few pastry shops where the pastries are of such a high quality. Everything is prepared with care and finesse. You can taste delicious desserts that are not lacking in imagination. With a very low price per piece, the pastry chef invites us to taste a wide range of his "miniature" cakes before choosing the ones we prefer! It is perfect for a snack break during the day. An address that is worth a visit.

A shop of traditional products where the welcome is in French. Large selection of organic or award-winning olive oils. You will also find an important department of cosmetic products based on natural elements such as olive oil. Handcrafted ceramics, objects carved in olive wood, wines, dried aromatic plants... An ideal shop to find Cretan gifts to bring back from your stay. The products are presented with taste and the ranges are wide enough for everyone to find what they are looking for.

This shop offers local products from the small owners. You can find first-press virgin olive oil, herbs, honey with thyme, olives, traditional Cretan pasta, cheeses and very good local cold meats. One of the few shops where you can find raki cooked and aged for a long time in barrels (48,50 € per bottle), organic raki... It is an excellent address where you can find a gift idea among all the good local products or simply to treat yourself.

An ideal place for a breakfast or a late brunch. In the "juice bar", there are several fresh fruit (and vegetable) juices on offer - but you will also find all kinds of coffee to suit your taste, to get the day off to a good start. A delicious yoghurt is also available at an affordable price, with a choice of assortments. You can also go there later in the day to enjoy some Greek desserts and a glass of raki. The place remains quiet, although it comes alive in the evening when the regulars sit there.

The establishment owes its fame to its specialty, the famous galaktoboureko (pastry filled with custard and soaked in a light syrup flavored with vanilla, cinnamon and lemon). The success of the recipe, which has been passed down from father to son, is due to the fresh milk of the local sheep and goats. You can also enjoy homemade ice cream and cakes. Recently renovated, the pastry shop is a meeting place for locals and all travelers who pass through the town of Kandanos. The detour will be well rewarded.

Nikos Toulis arrived from Epirus in Crete in 1865 and worked as a baker. In 1923, the bakery moved to Smyrnis Street, the present Tsikirtzi Street, and it is at this address that it is still located today. Vassilis Toulis is currently perpetuating the long family tradition of ensuring the quality of the flour and oil, the only fat used to make the different kinds of bread, sweet or savoury petits fours, fruit tarts. Everything is baked in the wood-fired oven. An address that is worth a visit.

Established in 1922 by G. Hosefpian, an Armenian immigrant who met the same fate as the Greeks who came from Asia Minor after the Great Catastrophe, this small shop is part of the history of the city. Hosefpian, alias Kirkor, brought in his luggage the recipe for bougatsa, a puff pastry filled with fresh milk cream, eggs and semolina, and since then, from father to son, Herakleion has enjoyed this delicacy. Sweet or savoury, Kirkor's bougatsa is a delight. Mr. Vassilis will be pleased to prepare one with spinach or ham.

In a space with contemporary curves, follow the expert advice of the staff who will direct you to the best bottles of wines and spirits from the region and elsewhere. An ideal way to discover Crete's vineyards and wine-making traditions from the experts. Tastings are organised on site to help you choose the bottles to your taste. To be consumed (in moderation!) during your stay, facing the sea or the mountains; or to bring back from your holidays to remember the Cretan flavours on your return.

In the heart of the city centre, a sweet break that cannot be avoided on hot Cretan afternoons. This small family business, located next to the Rimondi fountain, offers the "fro-yo", this frozen yoghurt on which you can add all kinds of delicacies, melted chocolate, fruit, sweets: anything you like for a very good price and the assurance to enjoy yourself! The ice creams are homemade. The boss and her friendly gossip are loyal, and we come back to them as soon as the opportunity arises!