When it comes to fruit, Greece has among the most delectable fruit anywhere on the globe with an assortment of fresh fruits that is second to none, particularly during the summer.
Fruit, full of antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, not only helps detoxify the body but also contains significant amounts of water, helping to stay hydrated. This is especially vital in the sultry heat of the summertime in Greece.
While fruit is a staple of the summertime diet in Greece, it is also enjoyed year round, as the country produces bountiful harvests of a variety of fruits throughout the year.
Fruit often served for dessert in Greece
Watermelon is a staple dessert at Greek tavernas and restaurants with many of them serving the refreshing fruit as a gesture of hospitality. Oftentimes, truth be told, that is all you could possibly eat after indulging in a fabulous Greek dinner at a seaside taverna.
Many beachgoers in Greece bring watermelon to the shore to enjoy its sweetness there. Most watermelon in Greece is produced in the western Peloponnese. An equally popular fruit is melon or cantaloupe, which is a rich, peachy gold in color and equally sweet in both taste and aroma.
Smaller types of fruit, such as apricots, peaches, nectarines, and cherries, are delicious fruits that can be found in abundance during the summertime across many regions of the country. Just like watermelon, these smaller fruits can be the perfect portable afternoon snack. They are also more commonly found and incorporated into various desserts and sweets in Greece. Fresh peach juice in Greece is like no other and simply must be tasted to be believed.
During late August and early September, figs and grapes are a common delicacy across Greece and its many islands with many trees draping their heavy-laden branches along roadsides. These fruits are very accessible to everyone, as they often grow in the wild and are easy to pick during strolls in the countryside.
Grapes have, of course, been harvested for many thousands of years in Greece’s village vineyards, used in their raw form or for wine-making and as the base for tsipouro, a liquer.
Despite being known for its stellar summer fruits, Greece certainly doesn’t lack for those which ripen during the fall and winter time. Oranges, mandarins, kiwis, and lemons are some of the most famous citrus fruits that are produced in the Peloponnese and Laconia as well as on Crete.
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