The traditional Greek breakfast is very different from the rich English or American breakfast. If you ask a Greek how they start the day, the answer will probably be “with a coffee and a cigarette”!
So what do Greeks eat for breakfast after all? The answer depends if we refer to a Greek family with children, a young couple who live in a city or a farmer who lives in a village.
1. A Greek mom will serve to her children for breakfast a toast with “voutiro me meli” (butter and honey) or “voutirome marmalada” (butter and jam) and a glass of milk or orange juice. Greeks love eating something sweet in the morning, so many times they will eat also a slice of “tzureki” (sweet bread famous especially for Easter, but not only) or an orange “keik” (cake).
Photo Source: Angela’s Pinky World
2. Many Greeks just grab a “Koulouri” (a bread ring covered with sesame) on the way to their job. The most famous “koulouri” is “Kouluri Thessalonikis”.In the morning, one can see many street vendors selling “kouloria”, one of the Greeks’favourite snack. This simple circular bread with sesame is a very healthy food, rich in carbohydrates and proteins, giving you energy for the entire morning. The origin of “Koulouri Thessalonikis” comes from the Greek refugees from Asia Minor who came to Northern Greece, especially in Thessaloniki. In Istanbul , the vendors who were selling these delicious “koulouria” in big baskets in the market were called “koulourtzides”. They brought this tradition with them, and soon these “koulouria” became famous all over Greece, including Athens and Attica region.
Photo source: filtsai.com
3. Greeks also love eating pies for breakfast !All kind of pies : tiro pita (cheese pie),spanakopita (spinach pie), kreato-pita (chicken meat pie), served in triangular pieces.
Photo source : Food.com
4. Another great pastry loved by Greeks is “Bougatsa”, filled with “tiri” (cheese) or “Krema” (sweet cream). Bougatsa is served hot , on a plate and cut in small rectangular slices. If you prefer “bougatsa me krema”, powder of sugar and cinnamon is poured on top of it to give it a special flavour. Bougatsa was also brought by the Greek refugees from Constantinople and Asia Minor to Northern Greece and soon it became one of the most popular Greek pastries. There are special shops which sell bougatsa and they are open from early in the morning till noon.
5. Greek yoghurt is very thick and delicious and many Greeks prefer to eat it in the morning, with a topping of honey (pine honey or chestnut honey). Many hotels, including Hotel Akti Musson have it in the breakfast option, so don’t hesitate to try it ! It is delicious!
In the countryside, Greek peasants would prefer for breakfast a piece of homemade bread and some olives or maybe a hot “trahana” soup, a traditional dish from Ancient Greece.
Whatever your choice for breakfast is, we invite you to be our guest at Hotel Akti Musson and to taste the flavour of real Greece on Olympus Riviera !
FAQs
A Greek breakfast may involve eggs, some pork product, quality bread from a bakery, an array of jams, honey, Greek cheeses, olives, phyllo pies (both savory and sweet), fruits, yogurt, fresh squeezed juices and coffee or tea.
What are the 5 main foods the Greeks ate? ›
The Ancient Greeks would eat eggs from quail and hens, fish, legumes, olives, cheeses, bread, figs, and any vegetables they could grow, which might include arugula, asparagus, cabbage, carrots and cucumbers.
What do the Greeks eat for breakfast? ›
The Greeks never fail to start their day off with a hearty mix! A typical Greek breakfast usually consists of a wide variety of bread, pastry, fruits, and Greek yogurt. These foods are high in nutritional value and a great source of energy — an excellent way to begin your Greek food adventures!
What ancient Greeks ate for breakfast? ›
Breakfast (“akratisma”) was usually a very simple affair of barley bread, similar to today's paximadi rusks, dipped in wine, and a side dish of figs or olives. Various sorts of pancake (“tiganites”) were also available, made with wheat flour, olive oil, honey, and curdled milk.
What were 3 foods eaten by the Greeks? ›
The cuisine was founded on the "Mediterranean triad" of cereals, olives, and grapes, which had many uses and great commercial value, but other ingredients were as important, if not more so, to the average diet: most notably legumes.
What do Greek hotels serve for breakfast? ›
The main products of the Mediterranean diet such as the bread, the rusks, the olive oil, the olives, the yoghurt, the honey, the cheese products, the cured meats, the fresh vegetables, the legumes, the pies, the sweets and the fresh fruit form the basis of Greek breakfast.
Did Greeks eat oatmeal? ›
Oats were cultivated in ancient China as far back as 7000 B.C., but the ancient Greeks were the first to eat oatmeal as the porridge-type cereal we know today. People around the world enjoy oatmeal in several different ways.
What is the typical Greek diet? ›
It is characterized by a nutritional model that has remained constant over time and space, consisting mainly of olive oil, cereals, fresh or dried fruit and vegetables, a moderate amount of fish, dairy and meat, as well as a variety of condiments and spices, all accompanied by wine or infusions.
What is real Greek food? ›
Greek cuisine is the cuisine of Greece and the Greek diaspora. In common with many other cuisines of the Mediterranean, it is founded on the triad of wheat, olive oil, and wine. It uses vegetables, olive oil, grains, fish, and meat, including pork, poultry, veal and beef, lamb, rabbit, and goat.
What time is breakfast in Greece? ›
Traditionally, Greeks don't have breakfast and instead opt for a mid-morning snack, like a koulouri – the bread rings sold for less than 1 euro at little stalls everywhere. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day and served around 2 pm, always with salad and bread on the table.
Abstract. The diet of ordinary people in Greece and Rome was derived from cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruit, olive oil, milk, cheese and a little fish and meat. This pattern fits well with what we would not regard as a healthy diet.
What is Greek food mostly? ›
Greek cuisine is the cuisine of Greece and the Greek diaspora. In common with many other cuisines of the Mediterranean, it is founded on the triad of wheat, olive oil, and wine. It uses vegetables, olive oil, grains, fish, and meat, including pork, poultry, veal and beef, lamb, rabbit, and goat.
What were the Greeks favorite food? ›
Ancient Greeks enjoyed a varied diet of vegetables, legumes, and fruit as the mainstay. But, being a coastal country with many islands, fish and seafood were an important part of the diet and animal husbandry and hunting brought meats and game to the menu.
