The Greek Baklava

Like many other food products in Greece, Baklava also originates from the old part of the Greek Empire: Asia Minor, the west coast of Turkey.

  Baklava consists of several thin layers of filo pastry, which are brushed with butter or oil. In between the layers you find the delicate taste of crushed nuts.

Baklava is extremely sweet, some people might say even too sweet, and can be eaten on its own or served with a small scoop of raisin or pistacchio ice cream. Every pastry shop and grandmother has a special way to serve it.

The sweetness comes from the syrup that is a typical part of many Greek sweets, made of hot water and tons of sugar. After being baked in the oven, baklava gets a good thick layer of this syrup on top. Sometimes the sugary taste of this syrup is given some extra finesse by a dash of lemon juice or rose water.

Greek people love to eat baklava after a meal with a tiny cup of original Greek coffee. It can also be found in the small bundles that are handed out to the wedding guests after the ceremony. The good thing about baklava is that your guests usually cannot eat more that one piece: the high sugar content provides a long-lasting toothache!

But baklava is still irresistible and can be found in several places around the world. The small ethnic food shops sell fresh baklava, with a box of the delicacy costing around €7-10. All the Greek shops and restaurants also serve baklava. Or you can impress your friends by preparing your own baklava from ready-made filo pastry.

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