Tzoumezia - sycamore fig tree

Name - Origin
Cypriot name of food
Τζουμεζιά. Tzoumeziá.
Greek name - description

The sycamore fig tree produces small, greenish-yellow figs that grow in unique clusters.

Language remarks

pl: tzoumeziés. The fruit was called s. tzoumézi pl. tzoumézia (Pharmakidou XP, 2003, p. 228).

Scientific name: Ficus Sycomorus.

Time period
19th - 20th c.
Supplementary Information

In 1914-1916 it is reported that there were 8-10 trees in Limassol and these were in the Turkish gardens. In the Paphos district there were no trees at all, while in the other districts Pharmakidis states that he did not know if there were any. Tzoumezia were sold by the Ottomans in the streets for 2 piastres per oka (Pharmakidou XP, 2003, p. 228).

1 CY líra (pound) = 20 selínia (shillings) 
1 selíni (shilling) = 9 grósia (piastres) (Note: Stalo Lazarou).

Bibliography

Pharmakidou XP (1983). Γλωσσάριον Ξενοφώντος Π. Φαρμακίδου, [Υλικά διά την σύνταξιν Ιστορικού Λεξικού της Κυπριακής Διαλέκτου, μέρος Β', έκδ. Θεοφανώς Δ. Κυπρή], Centre for Scientific Research, Nicosia, 2nd ed., 2003.

Researcher/Recorder

Stalo Lazarou