Table of Contents
Central Greece Wine Greek Beer. Greek Spirits.
Central Greece is one of Greece’s thirteen administrative regions. It consists of much of the eastern half of the mainland north of Athens and the island of Euboea. It borders Epirus on its north, as well as Thessaly, an area it shares a lot in common.
The terrain includes plains, forests, mountains, pastures, and coastal waters.
The five subregions within Central Greece are Boeotia, in the center, whose most significant town is Thiva (Thebes).
Euboea Island is to the east, where the largest town is Chalcis.
To the west is Phocis, and the town of Amfissa.
North of Boeotia is Phthiotis, home to the town of Lamia.
And west of Phthiotis is Evrytania, whose most significant town is Karpensis.
Euboea on the east has the treasures of the sea. Boeotia and Phthiotis have mile after mile of valley farmland. Phocis and Evrytania are predominantly mountainous.
Taste Central Greece Through Local Products.
P.D.O. (Protected Designation of Origin) products come from a specific area. They have characteristics due to that particular geoclimatic environment, and production takes place in that region. More than 100 Greek products now carry P.D.O. Status.
P.G.I. (Protected Geographical Indication) products also come from a specified area. Only one of its characteristic needs to be from this area. Also, only one part of the production must take place in the region.
Starting in the east, along the shores of the Aegean, you will find a lot of seafood on the menu. Moving west, produce, meats, and dairy from the farmland dominate the table. As you move to the far west and into the mountains, you find more casserole and slow-cooked items.
Central Greece Specialties.
Central Greece is not a major tourist destination. For the person wanting to find traditional foods, this is good news. The primary consumers are Greeks.
Unfortunately for the foodie looking for fusion, frappes, and foam, you are not going to find these too many places.
Get ready for casseroles and ready-cooked dishes that have been simmering for hours.
You will find the food of the workman and meals for families. And that’s not all bad if you are looking to immerse yourself.
However, there are a few items in Central Greece that are special, so keep your eyes open for them.
Central Greece Meze (appetizers)
There is no meze in Central Greece that is unique or exclusive to the area. You will find pies are very popular, and each town puts its spin on fillings.
Sarmades – are the local variation on stuffed leaves. They use cabbage leaves, and no one recipe is the traditional one. It seems to depend on what is available.
Sarmades, no two recipes are the same.
Tarhana is like a pasta starter. They make a dry mixture from grain and yogurt or fermented milk. From these coarse crumbs, they add a little or a lot of water, stock, or milk. They fry it like a pancake or add additional liquid to make a soup. You find this more in homes than restaurants.
Sausage
Taste Central Greece Local Cheese
Formaella Arachovas Parnassou P.D.O., – is a semi-hard cheese, which is often from goat’s or sheep’s milk. It has a light yellow color and pleasant taste. They only make it in Arachova near Delphi.
Feta cheese P.D.O. – Central Greece is one of eight regions in Greece that has permission to use the Feta name. This favorite cheese comes from sheep’s or sheep’s and goat’s milk. Make sure to taste Feta in Greece.
Katiki Domokou P.D.O. – is a salty spreadable fresh cheese (almost cottage) using 70% goat’s and 30% sheep’s milk.
Olives
Konservolia Atalantis P.D.O., – is a large table olive that prefers a Mediterranian climate. They serve them (after the brining), green or black. It is a crunchy olive with a mild flavor.
Konservolia Rovion – P.D.O., – is another olive tree that thrives near the sea. It produces a mild green or black olive with a fruity flavor.
Konservolia Stylidas P.D.O. – is another table olive but grows further inland. They serve them green and black. The olive is crunchy with a fruity flavor.
Konservolia Amfissis P.D.O. – comes from a tree that thrives in hilly terrain and produces olive of varying size. They brine the olives for approximately four months.
Central Greece Meat
Katsikaki Elassonas P.D.O., – is goat meat that takes on a unique flavor due to its local diet.
Arnaki Elassonas P.D.O., – is a young lamb that they raise only on mother’s milk. This process makes a velvety texture and no flavor from grain or grass.
Arachova kontosouvli – is a specialty of Arachova. It consists of chunks of pork put on a rotisserie with onions, peppers, and tomatoes. For seasoning, they use plenty of garlic and oregano.
Fish
Bourtheto is a popular dish along the Aegean using cod or other local fish. It goes into a spicy tomato sauce. I have seen it look like a ragu sauce or a chunky stew.
Fruit
Xera Syka Kymis P.D.O., – is a dry fig that grows near the town of Kimi on the island of Euboea.
Aktinidio Sperchiou P.D.O – is a kiwi fruit that grows near the border with Thessaly. It has a sweet and sour flavor.
Central Greece Vegetables
There are no vegetables from Central Greece that are worthy of the P.D.O. Status, yet. But they pick them when they are ripe, so they are all worth trying.
Desserts and Sweets
Glyko Kydoni kai Kastano – is a spoon sweet with quince and chestnuts. It is most popular in the fall when ingredients are fresh.
Nuts
Kelifoto Fystiki Fthiotidas P.D.O., – are pistachios that grow near the border between Central Greece and Thessaly. They harvest them mid-August to mid-September and then sun dry them.
If you want to know more, click the orange link to read more about Greek Cuisine,
Taste Central Greece Beverages
Central Greece Spirits
No unusual spirits are hailing from Central Greece. That does not mean they do not have homemade spirits, just any unique to the region.
Central Greece Beer
Greek-owned breweries disappear when beer conglomerates go on a buying spree in the 1960s. Today, you can buy “Greek” beers made by international conglomerates.
But for those looking for better beer, a renaissance of small-batch Greek beers is happening.
Currently, in Central Greece, there is just one artesian brewery, but they’re worth a taste.
Hellenic Brewery of Atalanti S.A. – is east of Atalanti near the Aegean. Throughout the year, they produce many different types and flavors of beer, ranging from pilsner to German style. They also distribute other brands.
Taste Central Greece Wine
Where artesian beer is still a growing industry in Central Greece, wine production is not. They have been making wine for thousands of years.
To get a real grasp, you need to delve into Central Greece Wines.
Taste Central Greece Summary.
Are these all the traditional foods and beverages of Central Greece? Hardly!
But these will keep you busy for a few days and give you an insight into the local cuisine.
So many people try to visit Delphi, Thiva, or the island of Euboea, in a day. You can do it, but it will leave you with only a partial impression.
Why not plan to spend 2-3 days and see, experience, and taste Central Greece?