Chasing the Right Souvenir in Crete

The market of the centre of Rethymno is concentrated in 3 streets: Ethnikis Antistaseos, Arkadiou and Kountourioti. However, feel free to wander around the arches and cobbled paths of the Old Town with little art shops.

Souliou street is a narrow, pedestrian street with small shops on either side with handmade jewellery, leather goods, organic cosmetics, herbs and spices. The list of your best souvenirs from Crete includes: Olive oil Key component to Greek cuisine and culture, the most important product on the island is always a good souvenir to . Choose Extra Virgin quality, in a metal packing. Handmade ancient-style leather sandals Greek sandals is always in-style accessory and can be worn with almost everything. Choose a locally handmade pair by skilled craftsmen, as they use traditional techniques that have existed for centuries. Remember that a raw, chemical free, natural tan leather ages beautifully with time and wear. Honey One thing is for sure, Greek and especially Cretan, honey is truly unlike anything else in the world. Raw honey is a true superfood and one of my favorite natural sweeteners. Our grandmothers used it as medicine for sore throat and healing. Honey is very important product, Choose wild thyme honey, produced with the purest methods, on the mountains of Crete, probably the most classic Greek honey, for its intense, aromatic flavour and high nutritional value. Herbs and spices Cretan herbs are well-known since the island is wealthy in wild herbs. The most characteristic species of the island's flora are the aromatic plants, which, due to the essential oils they contain, are used as ingredients in cooking, in the preparation of beverages and in medicine. Thyme, oregano, wild marjoram, sage and dictamnus are just some of the those needful that can be encountered for your luggages. Raki and Wine Crete has a long tradition of wine production since the Minoan years, so before you leave the island, buy a bottle of local varieties, such as kotsifali, marouvas, mantilari blended with other known varieties and the result is a wide range of red and white wines worth to try. Look for them in upgraded cellars. For Raki we recommend not to buy standard raki bootle, but to buy from a kafeneio or taverna or ask some of your locals friends. Ceramics Crete has a very old tradition of pottery (over 5000 years!) and there are many craftsmen still practicing their skills on the island following traditional techniques. There are, also, lot of mass-produced stuff and some high quality and original work, that worth to have and remember your moments on the island. Visit the village "Margarites", a pottery center to buy your special souvenir.