«Σταφύλι βέρικον« Πηγή: Στάλω Λαζάρου
A variety of grapes for table use.
Name - Origin
The verikon is a pink grape with large, crispy fruit (Kyprianou - Christodoulou 1969, 8).
It is a variety of grape unsuitable for winemaking (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry birch, 249).
Etymology < Bericci [wine-growing area near Padua, east of Verona, from where the variety of this grape was introduced to Cyprus around 1855] (Yaνgoullis 2009, entry βέρικον,το, 97) / Latin verus, meaning true (Kypri 1979 [2002²], entry βέρικον,το, 88).
Functional and symbolic role
Verikon grapes is delicious and for table use. It is not planted in vineyards, but in the backyards of houses. It grows a lot and is used to provide shade (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry βέρικον,το, 249
Additional information and bibliography
Yangoullis K. G. (2009), Thesaurus of the Cypriot Dialect. Interpretative, Etymological, Phraseological and Nomenclatural. Dictionary of the Medieval and Modern Cypriot Dialect, Library of Cypriot Folk Poets,70, Theopress Publications, Nicosia.
Kypri Th. D. (ed.) (1979 [2002²]), Materials for the compilation of a historical dictionary of the Cypriot dialect, Part A, Glossary of George Loukas, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, XLI, Nicosia.
Kypri Th. D. (ed.) (1983 [2003²]), Materials for the compilation of a historical dictionary of the Cypriot dialect, Part B, Glossary of Xenophontos P. Pharmakidou, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, IX, Nicosia.
Kyprianou H.S. - Christodoulou M. (1969), Folklore Dictionary, Nicosia.
Stalo Lazarou, Ivi Michael, Maria Tsangari / Petroulla Hadjittofi, Argyro Xenophontos
Βέρικο σταφύλι. Πηγή: Στάλω Λαζάρου.
Βέρικο σταφύλι, προς πώληση στην υπαίθρια αγορά του ΟΧΙ στη Λευκωσία. Πηγή: Στάλω Λαζάρου.
Traditional Recipes
Epsima
Dark coloured thick syrup, ”honey" with a sweet and sour taste. Prepared from grape must by prolonged boiling, without prior fermentation, until it becomes dark and syrupy. Used as a sugar substitute…
Foods
Foodstuff paid as tax (dekati)
Dekáti (decatía) was the payment to the authorities of one tenth of all the produce that a farmer produced in a year. Such products were wheat, barley, grapes, olives, sesame, tobacco, cotton, silk,…
Traditional Recipes
Fruit juice
The juice of orange, tangerine, grape or other fruit is used, along with a bit of sugar. The sugar that is added serves to preserve the aroma, colour and flavour of the juice.
Traditional Recipes
Octopus in citrus - pilaf rice
Octopus is a favourite delicacy in Cypriot cuisine. In this contemporary recipe it is prepared in an innovative way, since it is combined with aromatic citrus fruit.
Traditional Recipes
Portós-Poltós with epsima
Epsima is made after continuous boiling of the must, i.e. the juice of grapes. Wheat is boiled in this syrup until the mixture thickens and a pulp is formed.
Traditional Recipes
Ppalouzés
A thin cream made of reduced grape must bound with flour. When ppalouzés is cut into pieces and dried in the sun, we get ‘kkioftérka’ (kioftéria).
Traditional Recipes
Raisins
"Boil the water, add the soda and a bit of oil to give a gloss to the raisins. When the water boils, add the raisins..." (Marina Kiliari, Kyperounda)
Traditional Recipes
Šoušoúkkos
S̆ous̆oukkos is one of the most famous traditional sweets of Cyprus and you will find it in villages where grapes are cultivated.
Traditional Recipes
Spoon sweets - Grapes
It is prepared using the sultana variety during the months of September and October, before the grapes are completely ripe.
Foods
Stafili - grapes
Grapes were consumed as a fruit and were used to produce sweet wine, especially Commandaria, dry wine (mostly red), zivania and vinegar.
Foods
Sweets made from grape must
Originally, these products were the farmers' essential dry food during the working day. Later, they were consumed by all as a dessert or treat.
Traditional Recipes
Teržellouthkia with epsima
Biscuits, shaped like hoops, boiled in water and dipped in epsima. “In the old days we used to prepare these biscuits when the grapes were ripe. We would collect the grapes from the vineyard and make…
Foods
Votrys (grape) and oenos (wine)
Since early antiquity there are indications of wine production and consumption in Cyprus.