Λουκούμια Γεροσκήπου.
In January 2008, loukoumi Geroskipou entered the European Registry of Products bearing a Protected Geographical indication.
Name - Origin
Loukoumi is a traditional Cypriot sweet, known also as lizon, which for more than a century it was offered as a treat in rural coffee shops and homes (Hadjicosti M. (2008), p. 304).
Georgios Babiniotis notes that it is a sweet consisting of a translucent mass of cornstarch-based syrup, sprinkled with icing sugar, with the addition of colouring and flavouring substances, possibly nuts (Babiniotis 2005, entry λουκούμι,το, 1023).
ETYM. < turkish lokum < Arabic holqum (Babiniotis 2005, entry λουκούμι,το, 1023; Petrou-Poeitou 2013, entry Λο(υ)κούμι, 78) / Arabic luqmat; it is also called rahat-loukoum [that which relaxes the throat] (Petrou-Poeitou 2013, entry Λο(υ)κούμι, 78).
In the old days, for the preparation of loukoumia, they would use a large cauldron over wood fire. In the cauldron, they would melt sugar, which was the main ingredient of loukoumia, together with almonds, cornflour and flavourings to form the mixture. The mixture had to be stirred constantly with a large spoon to prevent it from sticking to the cauldron (Hadjicosti M. (2008), p. 304).
Functional and symbolic role
Loukoumi was a dessert.
They were sold at festivals and offered as a treat during feasts or at weddings.
Loukoumia were also used by the Muslims during Muslim religious festivals, especially at seker-bayram and during circumcision ceremonies Hadjicosti M. (2008), p. 304).
Additional information and bibliography
Geroskipou is famous for the production of traditional loukoumia. The first loukoumi factory in Geroskipou was founded in 1985 by a family with a long tradition of almost a century of making loukoumia. Later on, small loukoumi producers were also established in Lefkara and Fini village. The loukoumia of Geroskipou, delicious, sweet and fragrant, are still prepared in the traditional way of the past (Hadjicosti M. (2008), pp 304-305).
In January 2008, loukoumi Geroskipou entered the European Registry of Products bearing a Protected Geographical indication (EU Agriculture and rural development)
Babiniotis G. (2005), Λεξικό της Νέας Ελληνικής Γλώσσας. Με σχόλια για τη σωστή χρήση των λέξεων. Ερμηνευτικό, Ορθογραφικό, Ετυμολογικό, Συνωνύμων-Αντιθέτων, Κυρίων Ονομάτων, Επιστημονικών Όρων, Ακρωνυμίων, Centre for Lexicology, Athens, Greece.
Hadjicosti, M. (2008) Γεροσκήπου, Από την αρχαιότητα μέχρι σήμερα, Geroskipou Municipality, Cyprus.
Petrou-Poeitou E. (2013), Από πού κρατάει η σκούφια τους. Λέξεις και ιστορίες από τον κόσμο της γεύσης, Epiphaniou Publications, Nicosia.
(EU Agriculture and rural development, Loukoumi Geroskipou PGI at: agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/geographicalindications-and-quality-schemes/geographical-indications-foodand-drink/loukoumi-geroskipou-pgi_en
Varvara Yangou, Stalo Lazarou.