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Cyprus Hotels And Cuisine Is The Perfect Way To Bite Into Cypriot Culture
With its scenic natural beauty and a plethora of historical attractions, Cyprus, a Eurasian country located in the Eastern Mediterranean offers travellers a unique mix of Eastern and Western cultures. The white, sandy beaches, warm climate, plentiful activities and the large variety of Cyprus hotels lure visitors from throughout the world who want to experience the island’s food and culture.
The types of foods you might expect to find on the island have been impacted by the temperate Mediterranean climate and history of Cyprus. While Cyprus is a cosmopolitan island, which can accommodate a broad array of international tastes, you might also choose to sample various local dishes at Cyprus hotels and restaurants. Here are some of the delicacies on offer to tempt you:
Seafood
A wide variety of fresh seafood can be found in Cyprus and local specialties include red mullet, salt cod, calamari, cuttlefish, octopus, sea bass and bream. Calamari is characteristically cut into rings, battered and fried, while octopus is often made into a stew or stiffado and accompanied by red wine, carrots, onions and tomatoes.
Meats
The island has now become modernised and where traditionally villagers ate meat once a week on Sundays, it is now enjoyed more often. Pork meat, picked in red wine and salt, along with Tawas, a lamb casserole made with cumin, or afelia, a pork, red wine and coriander seed dish are all popular among Cypriots.
Vegetables
A bit narrower and waxier than those found in other areas, Cyprus potatoes are a common ingredient in much of the cuisine. Fresh salads, including ones made of celery, tomatoes and cucumber, are eaten at almost every meal. Similar to the Greek dolma, Goloji, is a dish commonly stuffed with rice and meat.
To sample a broad array of tastes and textures, try a Mezedes, also referred to as ‘meze’, which is a large selection of small dishes. Typical mezedes plates include black and green olives, octopus in red wine, tashi – a mashed eggplant dish similar to Middle Eastern tahini, potato and garlic dip, fish, minced meatballs and a broad array of marinated vegetables and salads. Cypriots commonly dine on a mezede dish accompanied by fresh bread and topped off with a dessert of fruit. Regardless of whether you want to try new types of cuisine or stick to old favorites, there are plenty of Cyprus hotels that can accommodate your dining preferences. With a broad range of visitor-friendly hotels and cosmopolitan atmosphere, it is a good choice for adventurous and non-adventurous diners alike.
Cheese
Halloumi, the national cheese of Cyprus, is a hard, brined cheese made of sheep and goat’s milk. Cypriotes eat the cheese fresh, grilled, fried or grated over pasta dishes. Served with fruit and a drizzle of honey Anari, a soft cheese like ricotta.
Drinks
When visiting the markets, you can often find vendors selling ayrani, a yogurt drink made of whey. Cypriots also drink another popular drink which is triantafylon, a sweet syrup made from the Damascus rose. The warm climate makes chilled beer a popular drink on the island and other available spirits include Cypriot brandy and Zivania, derived from grapes and similar to Italian grappa.
Damascus: Tony Wheeler Slideshow – Lonely Planet Travel Video