Ola Kala Greece

Loukoumades – discover the sweet taste of Greece in every bite!

Olakalagreece — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 18:02:48 +0000

Loukoumades – discover the sweet taste of Greece in every bite!

Loukoumades are considered one of the most delicious Greek desserts. These hot, fluffy, and crispy mini doughnut balls are traditionally drizzled with honey and topped with sesame seeds or cinnamon, offering a classic taste of Greece.

These are not just ordinary donuts…

In Greece, loukoumades are much more than a dessert — they’re street food, a sweet treat meant for sharing, and a taste of childhood. They’re usually eaten warm, straight from the oil, when they’re still crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Served on a plate or in a paper bowl, they’re often enjoyed together, picked at casually rather than eaten as an individual dessert.

With honey since ancient times

Loukoumades are one of the oldest desserts in the world — their early form was served in ancient Greece to Olympic victors, drizzled with honey as a symbol of glory and good fortune.

The Greek answer to donuts

Although they resemble mini doughnuts, loukoumades are lighter, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Traditionally, they have no filling — their character comes from honey, cinnamon, and nuts.

A flavor that travels

Loukoumades have counterparts in many countries — from Turkish lokma to Arabic awamat. The Greek version stands out for its simplicity and the intense aroma of honey and spices.

Flavor variations of Loukoumades

Modern Greece loves to experiment. In cafés and pastry shops, you can find loukoumades served:

with chocolate or chocolate cream (often Nutella)
with thyme honey or carob syrup
with vanilla or pistachio ice cream
sprinkled with sesame seeds, pistachios, or shredded coconut

They are often enjoyed as a dessert with coffee — frappé, freddo espresso, or traditional Greek coffee brewed in a briki.

The taste of holidays and family meetings

Loukoumades appear especially often during holidays, festivals, and family celebrations. Preparing them and sharing them brings people together — sparking conversations and a sense of celebration, just the way Greeks love it most.

And what about you? Do you enjoy loukoumades? If so, how do you like them best? With what toppings?

Be sure to let me know in the comments!

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and start planning your big greek vacation!

Artykuł Loukoumades – discover the sweet taste of Greece in every bite! pochodzi z serwisu Ola Kala Greece.

The phenomenon of Greek frappe coffee

picandgraph — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 11:00:21 +0000

The phenomenon of Greek frappe coffee

Why did Greece fall in love with frappe, and how did simple instant coffee turn into a drink without which it’s hard to imagine a Greek holiday?

Frappe – a symbol of everyday life in Greece

Frappe coffee is an inseparable part of Greek culture. Walking through the streets of Athens, Thessaloniki, or the Greek islands, you’ll almost always spot people with a tall cup of iced coffee in hand. Whether sitting at a café table or grabbing it to go – literally everyone drinks frappe.

There’s even a joke that you can recognize a Greek because they hold a cigarette in one hand and a frappe in the other. And there’s definitely some truth to it!

The history of frappe – an accident that changed Greek cafés

The story of this coffee begins in 1957 during the International Fair in Thessaloniki. That’s when a Nestlé employee, Dimitris Vakondios, couldn’t find hot water during a coffee break to make his favorite instant coffee. So, he put coffee, cold water, and ice cubes into a shaker… and the very first frappe was born.

Since then, Nestlé has become the main producer of instant coffee in Greece, and frappe has turned into the country’s most recognizable coffee drink.

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Where does the name “frappe” come from?

Although coffee frappe is a symbol of Greece, the name itself does not come from Greek. “Frappe” originates from French and means “iced” – a perfect description for this cool, refreshing coffee.

So, which frappe should you choose?

In every café in Greece, you can order frappe in several variations:

Glykos (sweet) – 2 teaspoons of coffee + 3 teaspoons of sugar
Metrios (medium) – 2 teaspoons of coffee + 2 teaspoons of sugar
Sketos (plain) – 2 teaspoons of coffee, no sugar

You can also add milk or enjoy the classic black version.

And you – have you tried Greek frappe yet? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

Artykuł The phenomenon of Greek frappe coffee pochodzi z serwisu Ola Kala Greece.