We know that nothing screams ‘Greece’ more obviously than a plaster statue or column, purchased from one of the many souvenir shops around the city center or the other tourist locations. However, how much are these really worth investing in?

An important thing to keep in mind is that most of these souvenirs are not even made in Greece; therefore, you will be purchasing something that you could have got online from anywhere in the world. Additionally, this item has been manufactured in another country and has had to be shipped here, creating more pollution for the environment.

It is understandably hard to distinguish between Greek and non-Greek products, in the busy flea markets and tourist areas, so let us give you some ideas!

Greek food products

In the heart of the city, you will find the Athens Central Food Market (otherwise known as ‘Varvakeios’). This is the place where Athenians traditionally shop to eat. Among its many aisles and surrounding shops, you will find quality Greek products, at reasonable prices, such as:

• Olives and extra virgin olive oil; products of the sacred tree for ancient Athens
• Greek honey, which comes in many varieties (thyme, pine, flower a.o.)
• Cheese; not just feta cheese, which most already know and love, but also ‘graviera’ and other PDO Greek cheese types from all over the country
• Spirits, such as ‘ouzo’, ‘tsipouro’ and ‘raki’; a little will go a long way with these, as they are quite rich in alcohol
• Liqueurs of fruits and nuts; typically with lower alcohol percentage, with a unique sweet taste
• Spoon sweets; also made of every fruit, nut, and vegetable imaginable, the traditional Greek dessert, perfect for topping Greek yogurt
• Herbs (such as mountain tea) and spices (like ‘krokos’ - red saffron)  from the various little shops and stalls, which will give the food and beverages back home taste a little like Greece

Tip: On the Athens Food Tour, you get to visit many family-run shops where you can find the above-mentioned products, learn about the way they are produced by our food experts, as well as sample them and experience their unique taste firsthand!

Natural Skincare Products

 If you thought olive oil was just for seasoning, then you are mistaken! In most shops, you will be able to find and purchase made-in-Greece all-natural beauty products, such as:

• Yogurt-based creams and masks
• Skincare with propolis, a natural substance coming from bees
• Beauty products with ‘mastiha’, the resin of a tree native only to the Greek island of Chios
• Cosmetics based on olive oil, and even peeling products with olive pits!

Handmade Leather Accessories

The manufacture of leather products is a long-standing tradition in Greece. In fact, in the Athens Flea Market and the surrounding roads, you will find entire shops dedicated to this craftsmanship.

• Leather bags come in all shapes and sizes, men’s, women’s, and unisex, backpacks or pouches, wallets, and even cardholders or vanity cases
• Accessories such as belts, which can often be modified on the spot to your size, are always a nice and reasonably-priced choice
• Leather sandals possess an ancient Greek vibe and look very pretty; if you end up purchasing them however, be extra careful, as they are not best suited to the bumpy, uneven streets and sidewalks of Athens

And the greatest advantage of them all? With proper maintenance, leather products are bound to stay with you for life!

So there you have it; just a few original and, most importantly, sustainable ideas to steer you away from the typical, poor-quality, and environmentally harmful items that are usually at the forefront of people’s minds when they buy souvenirs. With any of the above-mentioned products, you can be sure that you will take a true memory of Greece back home with you!

Photo by Jason Blackeye on Unsplash