MAMA'S EXPERIENCES

Traditional Food Tour & Olive Oil Tasting with Lunch in Kalamata Messinia

Traditional Food Tour & Olive Oil Tasting with Lunch in Kalamata Messinia

Discover the richness and inventiveness of Greek cuisine!

Lock all the flavours of Greece deep in your heart through a one-of-a-kind 4-hour food tour experience in Kalamata. Learn how to prepare traditional local recipes just like a Greek mama and taste more than 20 delicious Messinian homemade products. We assure you won't have to worry about dinner by the end of this experience! 

 

 

 

Where

You will visit the historic centre of one of the most beautiful coastal cities of the Peloponnese: Kalamata, in Messinia region.

The place is known for its exquisite olive oil and its world-famous black Kalamata olives. However, the city has so much more to offer and this tour will help you uncover its hidden gems.

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

When

The Food tour experience is available Monday to Saturday all year round either in the mornings or in the afternoons. Sundays and Greek official holidays are excluded.

 

The Experience

Visit local family-owned food and pastry shops, learn old stories and feel the authenticity of the locals.

 

Part 1: Meeting Point

Maria, our passionate food lover and local host, will be waiting for you at the beautiful central square of Kalamata, Vasileos Geogiou Square, (Πλατεία Βασιλέως Γεωργίου) in front of the Statues (Agalmata) of the Messinian war Heroes of 1821.

After a warm welcome, you’ll set off on your gastronomic experience with a leisurely stroll around the streets of this magnificent coastal city.

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Part 2: Visit to Traditional Workshop and tasting of Local Home-made products

Many times, you can find the tastiest local products in the most unlikely places of a town you visit, where you’d never think to look. Together we’ll discover a traditional Workshop, literally hidden in the tiny alleys of the city.

With a reputation that precedes it, not just in Messinia, but also in delis around Greece for its quality home-made Messinian products, it stays true to its authentic ancestral recipes, preparing two of the most iconic local treats daily.

The local women working at the Workshop will show how to make one of the oldest delicacies of Messinia and Mani, using the simplest of ingredients, flour and olive oil. Then you’ll get to see how the second delectable local recipe is made, full of aromas, flavour and lots of honey!

And while enjoying this staple of the Spartan warriors and satisfying your sweet tooth in the healthiest of manners, you’ll also learn about its long history and inextricable link to the local tradition.

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Part 3: Tasting of Spoon Sweets, Corinthian Raisins and Healthy Local Delicacies

Ascending towards the historic centre of Kalamata, you’ll marvel at the two-storey neo-Classical buildings and discover this city’s rich past, as well as the long history of ancient and more contemporary Greek gastronomy.

Upon entering the shop, the aroma of the exquisite herbs and spices wafting through the air will transport you to the top of Mt. Taygetos, the local mountain.

You’ll get to taste homemade glyka tou koutaliou (spoon sweets), black Korinthian raisins and other products of the Messinian and Greek land, discovering their nutritional value and their importance in a well-balanced diet.

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Part 4: Greek Coffee Tasting at Local Coffee Grinding Shop

It’s time for your morning coffee! And what’s better than a hot traditional Greek coffee prepared by Giorgos, who’ll reveal the secrets to its proper preparation. You’ll find out all about the origins of this type of coffee, how it got its name and how it has become a part of the Greek tradition and temperament.

Have you ever heard about the most popular Greek coffee custom? Don’t worry, you’ll find out soon and you’ll be delightfully surprised.

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Part 5: Tasting of Local Appetizers at a Traditional Greek Coffee Shop-Cum-Ouzo Tavern

The ideal way to feel like a local is to visit a traditional Greek coffee shop and ouzo tavern.

Right in the heart of the city, under the shadow of an age-old plane tree, flavoursome Messinian appetizers - mezedes are waiting for you to discover them.

Revithokeftedes (chickpeas patties), kolokithokorfades (courgette flowers), anchovies, eggplant dip with fresh basil, olives, local cheeses and so much more are waiting to take you through a mouth-watering journey filled with Mama’s flavours!

Especially when paired with ouzo, tsipouro (strong local spirit) or local wine and the good company of locals, the experience becomes even more authentic!

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Part 6: Visit to an Olive Oil Shop & short Olive oil tasting

Whether this is the first or umpteenth time visiting Messinia, olive-oil tasting is a must, given this is the birthplace of olives and olive oil. You’ll take part in a quick yet fulfilling olive-oil tasting with a professional and certified olive-oil connoisseur.

You’ll find out all about the Koroneiki variety and its unique features, and will taste different quality olive oils. This tasting will be enough for you to realise just how superior this olive oil is from the common olive oils in the market.

This is also the ideal place to buy authentic Kalamata olives in different packages, as well as Greek honey and selected products made by small producers across Greece.

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata 

 

Part 7: Visit to a Shop with Local Wines & Traditional Spirits - Short wine tasting

Did you know that in antiquity, Messinia was one of the largest wine-producing areas in the Peloponnese? Or that its wines carry the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and the Protected Designation of Origin Indication (PDO), due to their excellent quality and features?

Find out all the local varieties, including Fokiano, Roditis, Malaguzia and Moschofilero, as well as how they are combined with foreign varieties to produce excellent white, rose and red wines through a short wine tasting along with Mr. Giannis!

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata


Part 8: Light Lunch with Mediterranean or Messinian Dishes and Local Wines

A light yet filling lunch will conclude your gastronomic experience and spoil your senses, in one of the cosiest Coffee Shop-Cum-Ouzo Taverns in the heart of the city.

The menu is mainly based on traditional and lesser-known recipes from Messinia and Mani, which are hard to find anywhere else.

The Mediterranean diet unfolds in all its glory: healthy, seasonal comfort food prepared with passion and an extra dash of artistry, made with ingredients from local farms and small Greek producers, slowly cooked in herbs and olive oil. 

You’ll also get to taste a classic Messinian dish and find out its interesting history, but we won’t spoil the surprise. Join us to discover it first-hand! We can guarantee that you don’t have to worry about dinner, as there’ll be no room left for anything else!

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Visit to the Municipal Open Air Farmers’ Market (every Wednesday & Saturday mornings - 45') 

At the crack of dawn every Wednesday and Saturday mornings, Messinian producers set up shop at the Municipal Open Air Farmers’ Market.

Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the historic centre, you’ll find yourself in front of a wide selection of fresh produce from local farmers: tomatoes, cauliflowers, broccoli, potatoes, artichokes, eggplants, onions, leaks and all kinds of seasonal veggies, as well as freshly-picked fruit in all the colours of the rainbow, such as pomegranates, apricots, cherries, mandarins, apples and grapes, all stacked up beautifully and begging for you to taste them!

This is the place where you’ll find wild greens, picked by hand by Greek farmers, fresh village eggs, aromatic herbs from Mt. Taygetos, almonds, chestnuts and walnuts from Arcadia, honey to die for from Mt. Mainalo, homemade local pasta, fresh fish and meat, local cheeses, legumes and the list goes on.

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in KalamataTraditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Extra Gastronomic Experiences

Haven’t had enough? Why not add one or two extra gastronomic experiences to your tour?

 

Private Dining with Cooking class in Kalamata with Head Chef (3 hours)

If you’re looking for a more gourmet and special experience, look no further. You can enjoy a private dining experience complete with cooking class, to satisfy even the most demanding palates.

A renowned Greek Head chef prepares and cooks with you a surprise three-course Mediterranean feast in his restaurant, in the heart of Kalamata, using the freshest of ingredients.

Upon request and depending on the season, you may enjoy the meal either in the Chef's restaurant or at the outdoor area right next to it.

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Olive oil tour & Full Olive Oil Tasting (2½ hours)

If you want to get to know all about the unique features of olive oil or simply wonder what an olive-oil tasting seminar involves, this activity is right up your alley!

Along with our professional and certified expert, you’ll learn about the queen of Greek olive-oil varieties, Koroneiki, as well as other just as superb Greek olive oils. You’ll discover their key aromas, flavours and tastes, and will learn which olive-oil variety to pair with your favourite food.

Your olive oil tasting experience is enriched with a visit and tour to an olive grove and an Olive oil mill which is located just 10' from Kalamata's city centre .

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Tasting of Kalamata Olives (45')

You may have already heard of, or even participated in, olive-oil tastings. But have you ever taken part in an olive tasting seminar? Mama's flavours suggests you join a unique olive tasting event, which is hard to come by anywhere else.

Did you know that there are over 90 Greek varieties of olives? Find out how to distinguish the authentic Kalamata olives, and their quality features, and gain useful knowledge about this blessed fruit of Mother Earth.

The seminar caters for both gastronomy lovers and professionals.

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Honey Tasting (45')

If olive tasting piqued your interest, then our next suggestion will certainly satisfy your sweet tooth. This exciting honey tasting seminar will make you appreciate every single golden drop of one of Greece’s most famous produce!

Have you ever wondered how many honey varieties are out there or what their main differences are? Can you distinguish quality honey or have you ever heard about its therapeutic effects on the human body?

These are just some of the things you’ll discover once you dive deep into the wonderful world of honey bees and get to know the oldest sweetener known to man by our expert associate, who’ll be more than happy to uncover all its secrets.

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Wine Tasting with full lunch (2 hours)

What could be better than local wine tasting accompanied by home-cooked local cuisine in one of the best local restaurants in the city?

This wine tasting seminar will surely satisfy your nose and palate, with our expert sommelier explaining the history of wine, and the local varieties and features, eager to answer all your wine-related questions.

The only thing you need to do to enjoy this gastronomic experience is to taste the exquisite wines and combine them with a feast fit for a king!

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Marmalade workshop (2 hours)

In two hours you can make a delicious marmalade or piquant chutney from seasonal fresh fruits or vegetables available.

While enjoying the whole process, you may taste tasteful local products such, cheese and olives with chutney or local paximadi (rusk) and learn stories and traditions from Elena and Maria.

At the end of the workshop, you will get with you your delicacy you made from scratch to enjoy it with your family and friends!

Max. of guests: 4.

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Visit to the Folklore Museum of Kalamata (1 hour)

If you want to get to know the local tradition beyond Messinian cuisine, you can get a taste of the history of this blessed land with a visit to the Folklore Museum of Kalamata.

This is the city where the Greek War of Independence commenced, on 23 March 1821, by the brave Greek heroes of the revolution, who became a perennial symbol of freedom for all.

At this magnificent and imposing two-storey mansion in the historic centre of Kalamata, you will travel back in time, marvelling at the artefacts and rich archival material of that era. You’ll get a taste of what life was like in Messinia before the industrial revolution, revolving around agriculture, pottery and textiles, and you’ll experience first-hand the everyday lives of the locals. 

The first printing house of liberated Greece was established in Kalamata, which is where the “Proclamation of the Rebellious Greeks to the European Courts” was printed. It is a mesmerising text that illustrates the relentless Greek soul and the ideal of Freedom.

On the same floor, you’ll also be impressed by two simulations: one depicting a traditional Greek home and one a local coffee shop.

The tour concludes with a presentation of traditional costumes from the area, and works of ecclesiastical and Byzantine art.

 

Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata Traditional Food tour & Olive oil tasting in Kalamata

 

Are you a travel agency or company and are looking for a trusted local partner?

Do you wish to build a mutual, fruitful collaboration and would like to provide one of a kind gastronomic experiences

or team building events to your travelers?

You can contact us and organize it for you in the best way possible!

Tips

To make your visit even more memorable, here are some tips:

  • Wear comfortable shoes and a hat, as you’ll spend quite a bit of time outdoors.
  • Notify us of any special dietary needs (e.g. vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, flexitarian, etc.)
  • Notify us of any allergies (e.g. food allergies, allergies to bees, etc.)

 

Pricing

  • Small, only private experiences of 5-8 guests: 80,00€ / person
  • Min. of guests: 2 - Max.: 8.

 

Contact us to request a price:

  • For more than 8 guests.
  • For transfer services or organize your transfer from Athens city or any other place in Peloponnese and join the Food tour experience.

 

We can also design and provide tailor-made and multi-day experiences in the region of Peloponnese upon request.

Drop us a line at mamasflavours@gmail.com and together we’ll come up with a personalized gastronomic experience

just for you!

 

Included in the price

  • Tasting of Greek mezedes, sweet and savory local delicacies (more than 20!)
  • Short Olive oil tasting of 4 Greek olive oil varieties
  • Short wine tasting of 2-3 wine labels
  • Greek Coffee tasting
  • Light lunch & drinks
  • Local host throughout the experience
  • All taxes

 

Excluded from the price

  • The Extra experiences may be provided upon request, depending on availability and at an extra charge
  • Full lunch (upon request and at an extra small charge)
  • Personal purchases from local shops (optional)
  • Tips & gratuities (optional)
  • Transfer services may be provided upon request and at an extra charge

 

Additional info

  • The traditional workshop in Part 2 is open only in the mornings and it is closed in the afternoons and on Saturdays. Therefore, the tasting is made at the end of the Food tour experience.
  • Olive oil tasting may be enriched with a visit to an olive grove and an Olive oil mill located 10' away from Kalamata city upon request and at an extra small charge. Transfer is needed; In case you do not have your own transfer, please contact us.
  • Availability: The food tour experience is available in the mornings from Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays, Holy Friday - Easter Tuesday and on Greek official holidays.
  • Tuesday, Thursday & Friday afternoons the Food tour it may be offered at 17:30 p.m. and it concludes with a light dinner. The traditional workshop is closed in the afternoons.  
  • The duration of the Food tour experience can be tailored to individual needs of each guest.
  • You can choose and participate to any of our extra gastronomic activities individually or combine them with the Traditional Food Tour.
  • Meeting point and time: At the beautiful central square of Kalamata, Vasileos Geogiou Square,  in front of the Statues (agalmata) of the Messinian war heroes of 1821 at 09:00 a.m. 
  • Languages: English & Greek. Other languages can be provided upon request and at an extra charge.
  • Family friendly.
  • Wheelchair accessible: 80%.

 

Bookings & payment

  • Bookings: In order to organize your experience in the best way, the booking and the full payment must be made the latest 1 day before.
  • For less than 1 day or last minute requests, please contact us via email to check availability.
  • When the booking and the transaction are completed the experience is officially confirmed by Mama's flavours through email.
  • All payments can be made through our booking engine, bank transfer (you can contact us via email for this option) or Paypal.
  • Cash is not accepted.

 

Cancellation policy

  • Mama’s flavours reserves the right to postpone the Food tour experience due to bad weather. If it is postponed, no refund is given but, the experience is conducted the next available date and after coordination. 
  • For cancellations from our guests, there is no refund regardless of cancellation status but, you may choose a next available date.
  • All sales final.

 

Mama’s flavours Philosophy 

Our scope is to provide to our guests - travelers a high quality personalized and authentic local experience that goes above and beyond their expectations. That is why we always prefer to organize private experiences to couples, friends and families. This applies also for larger groups for e.g. a group of friends or a team building event.

When you, our guest, are interested in one or more of our gastronomic experiences, the day is exclusively dedicated to you, your friends and your beloved ones. With this way, we enjoy a beautiful day together and at the end we say goodbye as friends!

 

 

 

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