The Delights of Cretan Cuisine: Exploring Food and Olive Oil in Haa

👀Cretans have a deep appreciation for food and a unique way of life centered around seasonal produce and thoughtful ingredient combinations.

🥘Cretan cuisine is characterized by its use of fresh and local ingredients, such as barley rusks, sheep and goat cheese, and creton honey.

🍵Traditional Greek coffee and local teas, like maloa tea, are popular choices for starting the day in Haa.

🥐Experience the flaky and flavorful pastries of Haa, including kituna with spinach and mizra cheese, bugata filled with mizra cheese, and sweet treats like lakia and fakia.

🫒Olive oil plays a pivotal role in Cretan cuisine, and the coroni olives, grown in the region, produce a high-quality and aromatic oil with pungent, bitter, and peppery flavors.

What are some traditional breakfast dishes in Haa?

—Traditional breakfast dishes in Haa include Vos, a barley rusks topped with fresh grated tomato, thra sheep and goat cheese, and a kamata olive, and strained Greek yogurt served with creton honey and sliced almonds.

What are some popular pastries in Haa?

—Some popular pastries in Haa include kituna, a pastry filled with spinach and mizra cheese, bugata, a cheese-filled pastry with a crispy filo crust, and sweet treats like lakia, a sweet pastry crust with sweet cheese and cinnamon, and fakia, a savory pastry filled with mizra cheese and dressed in creton honey.

What makes Olive Oil from Haa special?

—Olive oil from Haa is made from coroni olives, which are known for their rich and aromatic flavor. The olive oil has pungent, bitter, and peppery flavors, and it is a key ingredient in Cretan cuisine.

What is the significance of olive oil in Cretan cuisine?

—Olive oil is a staple in Cretan cuisine and is used in various dishes, from salads to cooking and baking. It adds a unique flavor and richness to the dishes and is an essential part of the Mediterranean diet.

Where can I try these culinary delights in Haa?

—You can try these culinary delights in Haa at various local bakeries, cafes, and traditional Greek taverns. Haa is known for its outstanding food scene, so you won't have trouble finding these dishes.

00:01Introduction to Haa, Crete as a center of culinary traditions and unique way of life centered around food.

01:20Enjoying traditional Greek coffee at Monogram Coffee Roters in Oldtown and experiencing the charm of Haa's colorful streets.

02:52Exploring a Greek breakfast at Cor Morano, featuring Vos and strained Greek yogurt with creton honey and sliced almonds.

06:09Indulging in savory and sweet pastries from Mitaki Ki bakery, including kituna, ciunia, lakia, and marita.

09:29Tasting the famous bugata filled with mizra cheese at Bugata Haa and learning about its unique preparation and ingredients.

11:46Visiting daaa Olive Mill to learn about the importance of olive oil in Cretan cuisine and experiencing a tasting of coroni olive oil.