What are the features of the national cuisine of Cyprus? What to try in Cyprus from meat and fish dishes? What alcoholic drinks are popular in Cyprus? What desserts are popular in Cyprus?
Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean, located at the junction of three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe. Local cuisine has absorbed the best traditions of the national culinary traditions of Turkey, Greece, Lebanon and Syria.
Features of Cypriot cuisine are the use of a large number of spices and olive oil. Cyprus is an Orthodox country; there is no strict ban on seafood and various types of meat. The portions here are amazingly generous; we recommend taking one dish for two to get acquainted with the local cuisine.
Hot dishes
- Meze is a large portion of various types of grilled meat, fish or seafood, cooked in small portions
- Kupepya is a type of dolma, the filling includes minced meat, onions, tomatoes and herbs. Worth the portion
- Souvlaki – pieces of meat on skewers, grilled outside and served wrapped in lavata with lots of vegetables.
- Lukanika – sausages prepared in a special way from different types of meat with the addition of herbs
- Kalamari – deep-fried rings of freshly caught squid, a traditional street snack
- Souvlaki is a well-known kebab, differs in name: souvla is large pieces of meat, and souvlaki is small
- Kleftiko – oven-baked lamb with vegetables, served on a large platter with different sauces
- Moussaka – casserole of minced meat, eggplant or potatoes with creamy cheese sauce
- Stifado – beef baked in tomato paste in red wine and spice sauce
- Keftalya – pork sausages wrapped in film, fried outside and served with sauce and flatbread
- Halloumi is a goat cheese that has become a cultural heritage of Cyprus. Grilled in pieces and served with honey, watermelon or olives
Locals, when inviting you to a table, say “Kopiaste!” – “Join, welcome!”
Sauces for dishes
- Dzadzyki is the most popular local sauce, made from unsweetened yogurt with the addition of grated pickles, mint and garlic.
- Taramasalata – an unusual sauce made from mashed potatoes, olive oil and pollock caviar
- Tahini – sauce made from ground sesame seeds with lemon juice, salt and spices
Olives and black olives are served without restrictions in Cyprus; they are the most popular snack.
Alcoholic drinks
- Zivania is a local grape vodka with a strength of 49°. The production license belongs to the monastery in Kykkos, you will not find such vodka anywhere else
- Ouzo is a traditional drink for the Balkans and the Mediterranean, a strong anise liqueur 40°
- KEO beer – locally produced, light or dark
- Amathus and Othello are the most popular wines
When you raise your glass, you need to say “Yamas!” – an analogue of the Ukrainian “Budmo!”
Dessert
- Loukoumades are sweet, fluffy donuts drizzled with syrup and sprinkled with sesame seeds. A national dish for which Greece and Türkiye also compete
- Bakhlavas – well-known honey baklava
- Glyko – candied pieces of fruit in syrup
- Rizogalo – sweet rice porridge with pieces of fruit
- Frappe – a cold drink made from milk, water and instant Nescafe
Desserts are served with tea or unsweetened coffee, which is called metrio here.