The traditional Greek breakfast is very different from the rich English or American breakfast. If you ask a Greek how they start the day, the answer will probably be “with a coffee and a cigarette”!
So what do Greeks eat for breakfast after all? The answer depends if we refer to a Greek family with children, a young couple who live in a city or a farmer who lives in a village.
1. A Greek mom will serve to her children for breakfast a toast with “voutiro me meli” (butter and honey) or “voutiro me marmalada” (butter and jam) and a glass of milk or orange juice. Greeks love eating something sweet in the morning, so many times they will eat also a slice of “tzureki” (sweet bread famous especially for Easter, but not only) or an orange “keik” (cake).
Photo Source: Angela’s Pinky World
2. Many Greeks just grab a “Koulouri” (a bread ring covered with sesame) on the way to their job. The most famous “koulouri” is “Kouluri Thessalonikis”. In the morning, one can see many street vendors selling “kouloria”, one of the Greeks’favourite snack. This simple circular bread with sesame is a very healthy food, rich in carbohydrates and proteins, giving you energy for the entire morning. The origin of “Koulouri Thessalonikis” comes from the Greek refugees from Asia Minor who came to Northern Greece, especially in Thessaloniki. In Istanbul , the vendors who were selling these delicious “koulouria” in big baskets in the market were called “koulourtzides”. They brought this tradition with them, and soon these “koulouria” became famous all over Greece, including Athens and Attica region.
Photo source: filtsai.com
3. Greeks also love eating pies for breakfast ! All kind of pies : tiro pita (cheese pie), spanakopita (spinach pie), kreato-pita (chicken meat pie), served in triangular pieces.
Photo source : Food.com
4. Another great pastry loved by Greeks is “Bougatsa”, filled with “tiri” (cheese) or “Krema” (sweet cream). Bougatsa is served hot , on a plate and cut in small rectangular slices. If you prefer “bougatsa me krema”, powder of sugar and cinnamon is poured on top of it to give it a special flavour. Bougatsa was also brought by the Greek refugees from Constantinople and Asia Minor to Northern Greece and soon it became one of the most popular Greek pastries. There are special shops which sell bougatsa and they are open from early in the morning till noon.
5. Greek yoghurt is very thick and delicious and many Greeks prefer to eat it in the morning, with a topping of honey (pine honey or chestnut honey). Many hotels, including Hotel Akti Musson have it in the breakfast option, so don’t hesitate to try it ! It is delicious!
In the countryside, Greek peasants would prefer for breakfast a piece of homemade bread and some olives or maybe a hot “trahana” soup, a traditional dish from Ancient Greece.
Whatever your choice for breakfast is, we invite you to be our guest at Hotel Akti Musson and to taste the flavour of real Greece on Olympus Riviera !
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