Cretan Cheese Pastries (Kalitsounia)

Kalitsounia are one of the best delicacies you can taste in Crete. They are essentially small sweet cheese pastries, that are made with the soft mizithra cheese (not the salty type). Along with the cheese, most times they also have local herbs, like spinach or mint. Finally, they are drizzled on top with either cinnamon, sugar, or - most commonly - honey. Although you can find kalitsounia all over Crete, they are more popular in the region of Chania. There are many kalitsounia variations, as literally every area in Crete has its own local recipe, so if you like them - and you will - feel free to try them in every new place you discover on the island.