Flaouna facts for kids
A flaouna halved, showing both the sesame seed topping and the raisins inside
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| Type | Pastry |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Cyprus |
| Main ingredients | Cheese |
| Variations | May include raisins |
Flaouna (Greek: φλαούνα) is a tasty, cheese-filled pastry from the sunny island of Cyprus. It's a special treat that sometimes has raisins inside or sesame seeds on top.
People in Cyprus, both Orthodox Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, traditionally make flaounes for important holidays. Greek Cypriots enjoy them during Easter, and Turkish Cypriots make them for Ramadan. You might hear different names for flaouna depending on where you are in Cyprus, like vlaouna or fesoudki.
Contents
The History of Flaouna: An Easter Tradition
Flaounes have a long history as a special food in Cyprus. They are traditionally eaten to celebrate the end of the Lenten fast. This fast is a time when many Christians give up certain foods. Flaounes are usually made on Good Friday and then enjoyed on Easter Sunday.
On Easter Sunday, flaounes are often eaten instead of regular bread. Families continue to make and eat them for several weeks after Easter. Making flaounes is often a fun family tradition, with different generations working together.
World Record for the Biggest Flaouna
Did you know there's a Guinness World Record for the largest flaouna ever made? It was set on April 11, 2012! A company called Carrefour in Limassol, Cyprus, made this giant pastry. It was about 2.45 meters (8 feet) long and 1.24 meters (4 feet) wide. It weighed a massive 259.5 kilograms (572 pounds)! As part of the celebration, 20% of the money from flaouna sales that day went to charity.
Flaouna on TV
Flaounes even appeared on a popular TV show! They were a "technical challenge" on The Great British Bake Off during the pastry week of season six. This means the bakers had to try and make them perfectly without a full recipe.
Where the Name Flaouna Comes From
The name "Flaouna" comes from an ancient Greek word, paláthē. This word was used for a type of cake made with preserved or dried fruit. Over time, the name changed and evolved into "flaouna."
What's in a Flaouna? The Recipe
Flaounes are basically a pastry filled with a special mix of cheeses. The pastry itself is similar to shortcrust, which means it's crumbly and tender.
The cheese filling can be a mix of different Cypriot cheeses like graviera, halloumi, fresh anari, or kefalotyri. Sometimes, outside of Europe, these cheeses are even called "flaouna" cheese because they are so important to this pastry!
You can enjoy flaounes either hot or cold. The taste can be different depending on where they are made in Cyprus. Some flaounes are salty, some are semi-sweet, and others are sweet. As mentioned before, they often have sesame seeds sprinkled on top or sweet sultanas (a type of raisin) mixed in with the cheese.
See also
In Spanish: Flaouna para niños
