Food & Drink
Heavily influenced by the island's history and climate, Cypriot food is best described as a fusion of Greek and Turkish cuisine with an added local twist thrown in for good measure. In many dishes, influences from further afield can also be recognised, with Arabian, Italian, British and French styles a reminder of the past rulers whose tastes and customs have left a mark in Cypriot kitchens.
Thanks to the sunny climate and clean sea, most of the ingredients of a traditional Cypriot diet thrive on the island or in the surrounding waters. Tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, avocados and peppers are farmed throughout the country, whilst the seas provide red mullet, cuttlefish, sea bass and swordfish all year round. Meat is immensely popular with Cypriots and livestock is reared locally to provide the favourites - lamb, beef, pork and goat.
