The island of Chios is blessed. The wide variety of Chios products is all thanks to the fertile soil and Mediterranean environment in this region.

Its unique climate and fertile soil play major roles in the manufacture of a wide variety of consistently high-quality local goods. Nevertheless, let’s dive into the foodies’ paradise of Chios products.

Chios Mastic

Only on Chios island, and more precisely, only in the south of the island, the natural Chios mastic, also known as Chios mastiha, is produced. Mastiha is a natural resin that comes from the mastic tree (skinos), and it has a variety of functions in medicine, cosmetics, and fragrant goods in addition to liqueurs, sweets, and cuisine.

Since ancient times, people have known about its extraordinary healing abilities. It is antimicrobial, promotes oral hygiene, fortifies gums, heals stomach ulcers, and aids in the treatment of cholesterol issues. Mastic has anticancer characteristics, which have also been demonstrated by recent scientific studies.

Mastiha is used to make many Chios products such as mastic tears to use in cooking and baking, mastic powder for cooking or teas, mastic oil, mastic gum, candies, ouzo, liqueur, mastiha sweets, cosmetics, fragrances, aromatic natural soaps, and candles, all of which have the magical healing qualities of mastiha and a sweet scent.

Citrus fruits

Chios is sometimes referred to as the “fragrant island” due to its extensive citrus fruit farming. As soon as you reach Kampos of Chios the air is filled with so many different fragrances that they “strike” you immediately.

The surroundings are simply breathtaking! You’ll feel as though you are traveling in another era as a result of the narrow streets, tall, stone walls, and lots of green and orange! Tangerines grown in Chios come in a wide range.

There are fragrant orchards filled with tangerines, sweet and bitter oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits. The tangerine is one of the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) tangerine Chios products and it is distinguished by its potent aroma and distinctive flavor.

Chios Products: Yummy Preserves

A wide selection of Chios products is the sweet fruit preserves or spoon sweets as the Greeks call them. These include grapes, figs, almonds, pistachio, quince, sour cherries, and citrus fruits (orange, bergamot, and bitter orange). Sweet preserves were traditionally used to extend the life of the fruit and make it possible for people to access it even after it has been harvested.

On Chios, sweet preserves are made from flowers like rose petals from a particular variety of rose that blooms in May, and citrus fruits from Kampos.

A sweet preserve is typically served as dessert. Yogurt with sour cherry preserve is a locals favorite.

Mastic sweet, produced with sugar and Chios mastiha, is another sweet preserve linked to regional custom. Because a spoonful of the dessert is placed in a glass of chilled water when served, the dessert is known as a “submarine.”

In recent years, more inventive variations of this traditional treat have become available, like “submarine” with a lemon scent.

Dairy goods

The island produces many types of white cheese, as North of Chios main source of income is stock raising. You can find from soft unsalted cheese to spicy cheese spread that will leave a memory! Look out for kopanisti as it is among the must-try Chios traditional dishes.

Chios Spirits

Chios Wine

Wine is well-known and noteworthy among the Chios products. Oinopeon, the son of the god Dionysus, is credited by the historian Theopompos for imparting winemaking knowledge to the Chios people. In the past, the fine wine made here was referred to as “Ariousios Oinos.”

All around the known world, the ships would transport and exchange it in amphorae. It gained popularity during the Roman and Byzantine eras as well.

Recent investments in wine production, particularly in northern Chios, have helped to revitalize the production of Ariousios Oinos.

Chios Beer

Fresh, unpasteurized beer is called Chios Beer. It is made in the Kampos of Chios region using premium malt and hops types. It is produced without preservatives in tiny batches.

With notes of citrus and hops, it has a rich, fruity flavor. The richness of flavor is preserved because it is bottled unpasteurized, and it is best consumed no later than three months after manufacturing. A favorite from Chios products!

Souma

Similar to tsipouro, souma is one of the traditional Chios spirits and is made from figs.

On Chios island, figs are plentiful during August. The locals pick them and spread them out to dry in the sun. Following that, dried figs are added to barrels with water and yeast.

The distillation process happens in the autumn.

The distillation process, which is not only for production but also a social event, takes place from the end of October to the beginning of December. Friends will frequently get together during the distillation to pass the time with local meze and music.

Every maker uses their own recipe, combining figs with additional fruits and flavors like anise and mastiha. The main distinction is that producers in the north of Chios do not utilize anise and mastiha as frequently as they do in the villages of the south.

Chios Ouzo

The Chios ouzo was widely used in social interactions and it is the locals’ favorite among the Chios products. It was first offered as a welcome, greeting, and appetizer drink at the dinner table. It is a typical side dish with fish and seafood.

Depending on the recipe, the abundance of spices and aromatic herbs in Chios contribute to the creation of a light and smooth ouzo that is based on the traditional anise and fennel on a background of coriander as well as the distinctive mastic.

The local raki, known as “souma,” which is made from figs, is clearly different from the Chios ouzo, which is still mostly distilled in small copper stills of long-established family businesses. Local family-run distilleries on the island that have carried on the custom for many years make one of the most famous Chios products, the Chios ouzo.

Honey

Because of the island’s distinctively rich and unusual flora, Chios honey is regarded as some of the greatest Chios products.
The majority of honey produced in Chios comes in three different varieties: flower honey, which has a particular citrus flavor and perfume, pine honey, which is renowned for its exquisite aroma, and thicker, more vibrant thyme honey.

All grocery stores have both the characteristic Chios honey and honey flavored with mastiha.

Greek herbs

Chios island is rich in rare endemic aromatic herbs and wildflowers, making it a place of considerable botanical importance. A meeting place for the flora of Europe and Asia, with a variety of aromatic herbs of exquisite smells, the island’s dry, mild climate and geographic location contribute to this.

The production of organic aromatic herbs has become standard in recent years. Among the Chios products, you can find aromatic herbs like oregano, thyme, and spearmint that can be utilized in cooking as well as in beverages like camomile and sage or in personal care products like hypericum and lavender.

“Chios throuba,” edible olives

The “Chios throuba” is edible Chios olive and they are among the Chios products that are classified as a Product of Designated Origin (PDO). On Chios Island, these edible olives are also referred to as “kourmades.”

They are harvested from the tree when they are still light in color, but after being soaked in salted water to remove the bitterness, they turn brown or black. They can be found with or without salt and are often shrunk.

Because the mastiha tree’s leaves are utilized to flavor it, the throuba of Chios is known for its robust flavor and distinctive “skinos” (mastiha tree) aroma.

The verdant island is renowned for its wealth of Chios products, which are employed in local cuisine and enjoyed by visitors in every respectable tavern on the island. So, these are a few of the Chios products that you should try.

Have you tried any of them? Which Chios product is your favorite?