Moustalevria facts for kids

Mustalevria (pronounced moo-stah-lev-REE-ah) is a yummy, traditional Greek dessert. It's a type of pudding made from grape juice that hasn't fermented yet, called "must." This sweet treat is mixed with flour and cooked until it becomes thick and creamy. There's also a cookie version called Moustokouloura, which are delicious grape-flavored biscuits.

History of Mustalevria and Its Names

Mustalevria has a very long history! It first appeared in Ancient Greece, where people called it oinouta. Later, during the Byzantine Empire, it was known as mustopita or pastellos.

Today, this dessert has many different names depending on where you are in Greece. For example, in Crete, it's called kefteria. In Samos, people know it as kourkouta. If you visit Cyprus, you might hear it called palouzes. In other areas, it's still known as mustopita.

How to Make Mustalevria

Moustokouloura are delicious grape cookies.

Making mustalevria starts with grape must. This is the fresh juice squeezed from grapes before it turns into wine. The grape must is gently boiled over a low heat.

A small amount of special clay is sometimes added to help clean the must. After boiling, other ingredients are mixed in. These can include flour, sugar, semolina, and petimezi (a type of grape syrup). People also add tasty things like sesame seeds, vanilla, almonds, or walnuts.

Mustalevria is most popular during the grape harvest season. This is when the grape must is fresh and ready to be used!