Patrina loukoumia facts for kids
Patrina loukoumia, also known as loukoumia Patron, is a delicious type of Turkish delight made in the city of Patras, Greece. This sweet, chewy treat has been a favorite in Greece for many years.
| Alternative names | loukoumia Patron |
|---|---|
| Type | Turkish delight |
| Place of origin | Greece |
| Region or state | Patras |
| Ingredients generally used | Rose, mastic, and bergamot |
| Variations | Boukies loukoumia |
Contents
The Sweet History of Patrina Loukoumia
How It All Began
In the early 1900s, a company called "Aggelopouloi Bros" was the main producer of Patrina loukoumia. They were very important in starting the long tradition of making these sweets in Patras. This company continued making loukoumia until the early 1990s.
A New Chapter: Vassilios Manoussos
In 1916, a young man named Vassilios Manoussos came to Patras. He started working for "Aggelopouloi Bros" and learned how to make loukoumia. By 1925, he began making his own and sold them to shops and people door-to-door.
After World War II, Vassilios briefly made chalk for new schools. But he soon returned to making his beloved loukoumia. His family's business grew, moving from a small warehouse to a bigger one. In the 1950s, they built a large factory in Agyia. The company was named V. Manoussos & Sons. Later, they used the brand name Achaiki, which means 'of Achaea'.
Special Bites: Boukies Loukoumia
Vassilios Manoussos came up with a clever idea: boukies loukoumia. These are small, bite-sized pieces of loukoumia. Usually, these leftover pieces were melted down and added to the next batch. But Vassilios started selling them separately. Today, these "small bites" are very popular, making up a big part of all loukoumia sales.
Delicious Flavors and More
Patrina Loukoumia originally came in three main flavors, each with its own color:
- Red with a rose flavor
- White with a mastic flavor (a unique resin taste)
- Green with a bergamot flavor (a citrus fruit)
Today, you can find many new and exciting flavors of Patrina loukoumia.
Vassilios Manoussos also added other sweet products to his company. These included koufeta (sugared almonds, also known as Dragée), vanilla sweet, and gum candies (like Valda type). His sons later took over the company. The "Achaiki" company was even the first Greek loukoumia producer to have its own website! The company stopped making sweets in 2000.
