Patrina loukoumia facts for kids

Patrina loukoumia or loukoumia Patron (Greek Λουκουμια Πατρών) is Turkish Delight (lukum) produced in Patras, Greece.

In the early 20th century, there was one major producer: the "Aggelopouloi Bros" company. The company was closed in the early 1990s. The "Aggelopouloi Bros" was the birthplace of the long tradition of Patrina Loukoumia.

In 1916, a young man, Vassilios Manoussos (1900–1986) moved to Patras from a nearby village to work for "Aggelopouloi Bros" and learned to make loukoumia. He started producing his own in 1925 and sold it in the streets, or by visiting confectionery shops, door to door. After World War II, he started making chalk, much in need for new schools, but soon returned to making loukoumia. The family later moved to a small warehouse and then to a bigger one in Pantanassis Street, in the centre of Patras. In the 1950s, a new and larger factory was built in Agyia. The company was named V. Manoussos & Sons (Β. Μανούσος & Υιοί). Later, it started using the trademark Achaiki (Αχαϊκή) 'of Achaia'.

Vassilios Manoussos introduced boukies loukoumia, bite-sized pieces remaining from cutting and packing loukoumi. These cuttings were usually melted into the next loukoumi batch, but now they represent more than 30% of all loukoumi sales. Boukies (μπουκιές) literally mean "small bites" or "nuggets".

Manoussos also produced Rahat brand loukoumi for the Gloria company.

Patrina Loukoumia originally came in three flavours, each with a distinctive color: red with rose flavour, white with mastic flavour, and green with bergamot flavour. Today there is a variety of new flavours.

Manoussos added other products: koufeta (Dragée), vanilla sweet, gum candies (valda type), and other sugared products (like mnimosinou candies). The company was inherited by Vassilios's sons, and ceased operations in 2000. Achaiki was the first Greek producer of loukoumia that owned a web page showcasing its products.