Traditional and cultural foods in Northern Cyprus: souvenirs from the past

Food is always one of the main cultural foundations of any country. In fact, cooking food and serving it to others is a kind of affection and love that the people of a country do for others. Every country shows a part of its culture to the world with its special and delicious foods.

Cypriot cuisine is unique in its own way, so when traveling to this country, do not forget to enjoy the experience of local and traditional cuisine. In this country, there is food for every taste, so there is no need to worry about finding food that suits your taste.

Cypriot cuisine has many influences from Turkish and Greek cuisine, and by experiencing several types of these foods, you will easily feel these influences. In this article, we at Zahouriyan Investment Company intend to introduce you to the traditional and cultural foods in North Cyprus, so stay with us until the end of this article to learn about the traditional and cultural foods in North Cyprus.

Traditional and cultural foods in Northern Cyprus: souvenirs from the past

Get to know Cypriot cuisine!

As we said, Cypriot dishes are unique in their own way. The taste of the people of Cyprus is almost similar to the taste of the people of Türkiye and Greece. In fact, since Cyprus is a close neighbor to Greece and Turkey, most of its dishes are adapted from these two countries. With the passage of time and the growth of the food taste of the people of this country, Cyprus achieved its own food style. This country, with its own food style, has special food for every taste. In fact, since the cuisine of this country is very diverse, anyone with any taste can like these dishes.

For many people who travel to North Cyprus, tasting the food of this country is considered the most delicious and attractive part of their trip. Because food is one of the most important criteria that can help to better understand the art and culture of a country. For this reason, before traveling to this colorful and beautiful country, it is better to familiarize yourself with some of its diverse cuisines.

Halloumi Halloumi

Halloumi is one of the most delicious traditional and cultural dishes in Northern Cyprus. To prepare this dish, a combination of goat and sheep milk is used, of course, cow’s milk is also used in the new recipe of this Cypriot appetizer.

Halloumi is actually a salty cheese from Northern Cyprus, but what sets it apart from other cheeses is that it is toasted and charred. Usually, this appetizer is served in Cypriot restaurants during the warm months of the year with a few pieces of watermelon to double the pleasure of eating it. This Cypriot appetizer has become famous in European countries, and halloumi is served as an appetizer in some of the world’s famous restaurants.

Souvlaki Souvlaki

Without souvlaki, the list of traditional and cultural dishes in Northern Cyprus is incomplete. If you like kebabs, don’t forget to try souvlaki, a delicious Cypriot kebab. This dish is of Greek origin and is even known as Greek fast food in northern Cyprus, but Cypriots have made changes in its preparation.

Meat is the main ingredient of this dish, but depending on the taste of the customer or the cook, sometimes vegetables are added to it, which enhances the flavor of the dish. If you want to have a great souvlaki experience in Cyprus, we recommend that you eat it with pita bread, potatoes and lemon. In order to get new and up-to-date information about investment in North Cyprus, you can refer to the article Investment in North Cyprus 2024 published in Zahorian Investment Company!

Copia | Koupepia

Koppia is one of the traditional and cultural dishes in Northern Cyprus, which is very similar to Iranian dolmeh. So, if you miss Iranian food during your trip to Cyprus, go to the nearest restaurant and order Koppia. This dish is prepared using tomatoes, various vegetables, minced meat, olive oil, black pepper, salt and lemon, and it can be called one of the most delicious dishes in Cyprus.

It may interest you to know that this dish, like the previous two dishes, has Greek roots and is known as delke among Greeks, but Cypriots call it koppia. In most parties and get-togethers in Cyprus, kopiapa is served as the main dish.

Traditional and cultural foods in Northern Cyprus: souvenirs from the past

Lahmajoon Lahmacun

Lahmajoon is a quick and delicious snack that is usually served with fresh vegetables and lemon to double the final taste of the meal. You can find this dish at street food stalls all over Cyprus. This dish is a thin and crispy bread that is topped with a mixture of minced meat, tomatoes, onions, spices and pickles.

Seafood Seafood

Being located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Northern Cyprus hosts fresh and delicious seafood. Therefore, another traditional and cultural food in North Cyprus can be considered its seafood. You can enjoy the most diverse fish and seafood in most restaurants in Cyprus, but to experience the best seafood, we recommend the restaurants located in Kyrenia and Famagusta in Northern Cyprus.

Stifado | Stifado

Stifado is one of the traditional and cultural dishes in Northern Cyprus, whose roots go back to the Ottoman rule, and it can be called a seven-hundred-year-old dish. To prepare this dish, meat, spices, oregano, garlic and onion are used, and it is actually a traditional stew in Cyprus. Stifado has many fans all over the world with its delicious taste. In addition, property purchase services in North Cyprus and Turkey are another service of Zahoorian Investment Company. These services are provided by real estate experts with legal license and credit and years of successful experience by Zahoorian Investment Company!

Shaftelia Sheftalia

If you are interested in fast food, then choosing Sheftalia can be a suitable option for you. Sheftalia is another traditional and cultural dish in Northern Cyprus that has many fans all over the world. In preparing this dish, sausages are placed on hot grilled coals and cooked with a variety of vegetables such as onions, parsley, tomatoes and spices. Sheftalia is a food that Cypriots are very fond of, and if you decide to try it, you will definitely join the group of food lovers.

Cleftico kleftiko

When it comes to traditional and cultural food in Northern Cyprus, Kleftiko is definitely on that list. This dish, although it has Greek roots, is very popular in Cyprus. Lamb meat and potatoes are used to prepare Kleftiko, and the meat should be very soft and delicious.

Akmak Kadaev Ekmek Kadayif

Northern Cyprus is full of amazing desserts, but Ekmek Kadaif stands out among them. This dessert is prepared using sugar, eggs, milk and flour and has a wonderful taste. Ekmek Kadaif is served as a dessert in most Cypriot restaurants and is good for digestion.

Copse | Koupes

One of the best traditional and cultural dishes in North Cyprus is Koops. This food is unmatched with its wonderful taste and aroma. Koops are actually a type of croquette and are usually served as an appetizer in Cyprus. To prepare koops, its outer layer is prepared from flour, water, wheat, oil and eggs, and its inner ingredients include minced meat, parsley, onions and various spices. The spices used in the preparation of Koops give the food a unique taste.

Seafood Seafood

Local drinks of Northern Cyprus

In North Cyprus, a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages is available to you. Ayran, which means buttermilk in the local language, is one of the prominent soft drinks in the region. Considering the similarity of its taste to buttermilk, we can have a good idea of ​​its taste.

Triantafilo is another popular non-alcoholic drink in Northern Cyprus. This drink is prepared by extracting rose extract and adding milk and water to it. This drink is one of the rare examples of the influence of the food culture of Arab countries on the food of North Cyprus.

In Northern Cyprus, not only is the consumption of wine not prohibited, but the beer and wine industry is one of the largest industries in the country. The country has had a brewery since 1871 (which was more than a year before its independence). Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in Northern Cyprus. Brandy is also one of the most popular wines in this country. You can find this drink anywhere in Northern Cyprus. Zivania is one of the famous wines of this country, which is made by distilling a grape-like fruit.

Conclusion

Traditional and cultural foods in Northern Cyprus represent a large part of the country’s culture. For this reason, many of those who have traveled to this country believe that the taste of the country’s delicious food will always remain in their minds. Since the culture and cuisine of two countries, Greece and Turkey, have had a great impact on traditional and cultural cuisine in Northern Cyprus, it can be said that the cuisine of Cyprus is a combination of the art, taste and culture of these three countries.

So, if you are one of those people who like to taste the traditional and cultural foods of North Cyprus, you must visit this country once.