Μαξίλλες Λυσού. Πηγή: Άδεια δημοσίευσης από Υπ. Γεωργίας
Dried figs produced in the village of Lysos in the Paphos district.
Name - Origin
Maxilles Lysou aref dried figs prepared in the village of Lysos in the Paphos district.
They were named after the region in which they are mainly produced. Note: Stalo Lazarou
According to K. Yiangoullis, their name is derived from the Latin word 'maxilla' meaning 'early fig'. Also, according to R. Papaggelou (2001), the name 'maxilles'means dried/early figs and comes from the Latin word 'macilentus' which means lean/ thin.
Production method: The figs, while on the tree, are smeared on the stem with olive oil (the oil is applied on cotton wool, which is attached to the end of a straw) in order for several fruits to ripen at the same time. In about 7 days, the fruit is ripe and harvested. The figs are spread on the ground in 'nysious' (pine needles) for 1-2 days until they wither. They are then halved (without dividing them) and left for another 3-4 days to dry. They are then placed in hot water with fennel for 1-2 minutes, drained and left to cool/ dry (Ioannidou M., 2007, Documentary:Με γέφυρα τη γευστική μας παράδοση).
Functional and symbolic role
They are consumed as a sweet or with nuts.
Additional information and bibliography
Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Agriculture (2010).Gastronomic Map of Cyprus, Nicosia, Press and Information Office, 379.
Stalo Lazarou
Traditional Recipes
Marmelada syko - fig jam
"Wash and peel the figs and put them in a deep pot with the sugar. Press with the palm to form a mass. " (Sotira Kyriakou, Kyperounda)
Traditional Recipes
Pastosyka - dried figs
In the past, dry white figs were called pastosyka, and dry dark coloured were called maxilles. Maxilles are produced in Paphos. The sweetest and tastiest are those of Lysos and Arodes (villages of…
Traditional Recipes
Spoon sweets - Fig
Primarily, unripe figs are used for the preparation of this sweet, which in Cypriot they are called koutsaka. Thus, the spoon sweet is also called fig-koutsako.
Traditional Recipes
Sun-dried tomatoes
"Cut the tomatoes into slices, sprinkle them with salt and lay them out in the sun to dry." (Despina Kyriakou, Kyperounda)
Traditional Recipes
Sykopitta
A small pitta made with a mixture of fig pulp, almonds, aniseed and rosewater.