Local Products Worth Trying in Halkidiki

Every region of Greece has its own pantry, but Halkidiki’s is particularly rich. Pine-covered hills,
fertile valleys, three coastlines and a climate that swings gently between Aegean and Macedonian
influences have given local producers an unusually broad palette. Here are the products our team
encourages every guest to take home – or at least to taste while they are with us.

Baked bread. Lunch and dinner follow the same
philosophy: seasonal, simple, generous, and always anchored in good olive oil.

1. Halkidiki Olives
   The Halkidiki variety is one of the largest and most elegant table olives in the Mediterranean: bright
   green, firm, with a mild and slightly buttery flavour. Cracked, stuffed with almonds or sun-dried, they
   appear on every Halkidiki meze table – and for very good reason.
   
   
2. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
   Made from the same Halkidiki variety, the region’s extra virgin olive oil is grassy, balanced and gently
   peppery. Look for single-estate bottles from producers such as A33 (Kelli), Terra Azapiko, Halkidiki
   Olive Oils in Vrastama, or Galano Metangitsiou. A small bottle in your suitcase is the easiest way to
   bring a Greek summer home.
   
   
3. Pine and Thyme Honey
   Halkidiki’s beekeepers harvest two very different honeys from the same forests. Pine honey is dark,
   mineral, less sweet, and famously high in antioxidants. Thyme honey is fragrant, golden and almost
   floral. Many producers also offer cremes, propolis and pollen. A spoonful of local honey stirred into
   Greek yoghurt is one of the simplest – and most authentic – pleasures of a Greek breakfast.
   
   
4. Local Cheeses
   Greek cheese is far more than feta – although Macedonian feta itself is among the best in the
   country. Look out for kasseri, a semi-hard, mellow yellow cheese; anthotyro, a fresh whey cheese
   ideal with honey; and metsovone or graviera-style cheeses from nearby mountains. Many small
   producers near Polygyros sell directly from the farm.
   
   
5. Mussels from Olympiada
   The cold, clean waters of the Strymonic Gulf produce some of the most prized mussels in Greece.
   Steamed with olive oil, garlic, white wine and a handful of parsley, they make one of the simplest
   and most memorable Halkidiki dishes.
   
   
6. Wines from the Slopes
   Halkidiki and neighbouring Mount Athos host an impressive number of small and mid-size wineries
   working with both international varieties and exciting native grapes – Assyrtiko, Athiri, Malagousia,
   Limnio, Xinomavro. Several are open for visits and tastings, easily arranged through our concierge.
   The wines travel beautifully.
   
   
7. Tsipouro
   Northern Greece’s traditional grape distillate, tsipouro is to Halkidiki what grappa is to northern
   Italy. It is poured in small glasses, sipped slowly, and almost always accompanied by meze: a few
   olives, a piece of cheese, a slice of cured pork. A bottle from a small distillery is a wonderful, slightly
   unexpected gift.
   
   
8. Wild Herbs and Mountain Tea
   Oregano, thyme, sage, lavender and chamomile dry in bunches in every village kitchen. Sideritis, the
   Greek mountain tea, is a calming, lemony infusion traditionally drunk for everything from digestion
   to a quiet evening. They weigh almost nothing and they will perfume your kitchen at home for
   months.
   
   
9. Sweets
   Spoon sweets – small fruits preserved in syrup and served with cold water – are a quintessentially
   Greek ritual of hospitality. Quince, cherry, fig and bitter orange are typical. Halvas from Macedonia,
   made of tahini and honey, is another excellent edible souvenir, particularly the variations with cocoa
   or roasted almonds.

Where to Shop

• Local farmers’ markets in nearby villages, usually held once a week.
• Small family producers along the road between Sani and Polygyros.
• Wineries and olive mills open to visitors – our concierge can help with appointments.
• The selection of regional products available at the resort, curated by our team.

“Local products offer one of the most authentic ways to discover a destination. A bottle of
exceptional olive oil, honey harvested in Halkidiki, a handful of wild oregano gathered
from the hillsides — simple ingredients that carry within them the scents, memories and
flavours of a Greek summer. These are the treasures I most often recommend to our
guests, as they allow them to take a small piece of Halkidiki home and relive the
experience long after their journey has ended.”
— Fanis Megarchiotis I Chef, Simantro Resort

The best souvenirs from a Greek holiday are almost always edible – and almost always shared. We
hope you leave Halkidiki with a suitcase a little heavier, a fridge soon to be fuller, and a long list of
friends to invite for dinner.