Items offered in a kafenio (traditional coffee shop).
Name - Origin
Είδη καφενείου.
Functional and symbolic role
In the traditional kafenio, roasted coffee was offered as well as loukoumia, soumada (almond cordial), tea, lemonade. The coffee beans were pounded in a beater and roasted on the charcoal, deriving from carob trees or latžies (golden oak) trees so as to last longer (Appios 1999, p.28).
note: Latžiá = golden oak tree, the national tree of Cyprus.
Additional information and bibliography
Cleaning process: The kafenio owner would wash the glasses with vinegar; the glasses used by people with tuberculosis were washed with pure alcohol (Appios 1999, p. 29).
Appios Georgiou Vassos (1999), Αναμνήσεις από την κατεχόμενη Ζώδια, Nicosia
Eleni Christou
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)