Lefkada, one of the most beautiful islands of the June seas, is a favorite destination for many during the summer months and beyond! It is the fourth-largest Ionian Island and bears a significant history. It’s picturesque, with easy access even by road, its emerald waters, its unique sights and mainly its gastronomy, are some good reasons for its popularity!
The cuisine of Lefkada is influenced by the mainland cuisine of Roumeli and mainly by Venetian cuisine due to the Venetian occupation.
On this beautiful island, one has the opportunity to enjoy excellent food in its charming tavernas but also to taste its delicious local products. You can find them at local shops, but also from producers themselves and buy them either as a souvenir before leaving or as a gift for friends and family.
The island’s products are plentiful and intertwined with its cultural heritage and gastronomy. We collected the top 6 most popular to present them below for you to get a taste!
1. Legumes
The island has several legume types (such as beans and chickpeas) but the lentils and lathiria undoubtedly make a difference.
The famous lentil of Egluvi
This legume is grown in the homonymous village of Lefkada, Egluvi. It’s the most mountainous village on the island, and lentils grow on the Egluvi plateau at an altitude of a thousand meters.
The seeds of this particular quality of lentil are small and brown, black and pale yellow.
Its distinct quality is that it boils quickly and has a pleasing aroma after cooking.
It is very nutritious and rich in iron. Cultivating this is quite laborious and costly because the local producers have decided to preserve the authenticity and quality of this legume. They have never used pesticides and herbicides. They kill the weeds by hand, which is much to their credit. They harvest the lentils in mid-June, and the 20-30 tons of annual production is distributed from the producer to the consumer within 20 days,
Every summer, on August 6, at the Feast of Lent and the Feast of AgiosDonatos, the locals cook this traditional food in large “tzoukas” and treat the visitors. If you are lucky and find yourself on the island during that period, it is worth living the experience.
The Lathiria
Lathiria is an organic product, and it is grown without fertilizers and pesticides. Produced near Karia, it is easy to cook and has several beneficial properties for the digestive system.
2. The salami
Salami is another well-known product processed with excellent-quality materials. Lefkada is said to have been “making” salami since the Venetian occupation and those who knew about its preparation came from Italy to show the locals its secrets. Lefkada salami, therefore, has Venetian origins and is considered one of the first famous Greek foods since the 20th century, thanks to its distinctive garlic aroma and whole peppercorns.
3. Rosoli liqueur
It’s another popular product that tourists tend to buy before leaving the island. It has its roots in the Venetian period and is considered an aperitif, but also used in confectionery and cooking. It is tasty with a divine smell because it contains citrus, fruits, and cinnamon.
4. The olive oil
Lefkada olive oil is quite famous, as expected, considering that olive trees cover vast areas on the island. The censuses carried out in 1960 and 1970 accounted for 1,123,000 olive trees. The most common variety is the aprolia or leucolia of Lefkada.
According to archaeological findings and historical research, its cultivation has been widespread since ancient times.
You can also visit and take a guided tour of the “Fabbriaca” Olive Museum in the village of Syvros.
5. The honey
Thyme honey, beloved by all of us, could not be missing from the list of top products. It has a special place, along with the pasteli and the local mandolata with nuts. Honey is made naturally in the southwest of the island.
What you need to keep in mind, if you find yourself there, is the apiary “Honey 51” by Vassilis Soldatos, which you can visit by appointment, and the Honey Festival in Draganos, where you can try honey-based dishes.
6. The oil cake
You will find the traditional ladopita of Lefkada on every corner, from bakeries and patisseries, even as a treat in tourist places. It is known as “the bond of joy” as it is a treat at weddings and baptisms, but they also have it as “Vassilopita“, a traditional New Year’s cake!
It is a dessert reminiscent of halva with flour, but they sprinkle the sweet batter with sesame and sugar and place an almond in each piece.
These were the best of the produce of this beautiful island and worth seeking out when you are there!
Since 2014, the Lefkada Gastronomy Festival has been taking place, giving you the opportunity to taste all the dishes and find the one that suits you best!
