What is chakistes in Northern Cyprus and how is it consumed?
These green olives are one of the gastronomic symbols of the island and are marinated in a special way.
What is chakistes
These are early green olives harvested at a specific time and marinated in a special way.
The harvest usually begins in October when the first green olive fruits appear. They are either shaken from the branches onto leaves spread on the ground around the tree or collected by hand.
- You can learn about the start of the harvest season from the Olive Festival, which starts during this period.
Preparing chakistes
- First, wash the olives well and dry them in the sun.
- Raw green olives are cracked in half with a special stone or hammer, but the pits remain intact, allowing the brine to soak into the olives.
- Place the olives in a bucket and pour enough water over them. They should stay in the water for six days, changing the water daily.
- Dissolve salt in water until it becomes quite concentrated. To ensure that the water contains the necessary amount of salt, drop a fresh egg into it. If the egg floats and part of it sticks out of the water, it's ready.
- Add the juice of three lemons and pour half a cup of olive oil on top.
After a month, they are ready to eat.
Serving chakistes
Take the required number of olives from the jar and rinse them under cold water to remove the salt. Mix some olive oil with lemon juice, chopped coriander, and crushed garlic. Pour this mixture over the green olives and serve.
Serve with slices of bread (to absorb the juice), tomatoes, feta cheese or fried halloumi cheese, hummus, and pickled vegetables.
Chakistes are used both in salads and as a standalone appetizer.
- Important note: The olives must be eaten within three days after leaving the brine, otherwise their taste will change significantly.
Frequently asked questions about chakistes
Where can you buy chakistes in Northern Cyprus?
This is a very popular snack and can be found almost everywhere—from cafes and restaurants to stores of any level. Chakistes are usually sold in large plastic jars (as shown in the photo above), directly in the brine, but sometimes in vacuum packaging, which is convenient for buying as a souvenir.
When is the best time to harvest olives for chakistes?
This is the first winter olive harvest, usually occurring in early October. However, depending on the weather, dates may vary. You can refer to the Olive Festival in Northern Cyprus.
What other products are marinated in Northern Cyprus?
A fairly popular dish is marinated walnuts. For this delicacy, semi-ripe walnuts are used, which turn black after being marinated and dried.
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Author
Born and raised in Yekaterinburg, visited more than 40 countries, lived in the USA for some time, and in 2022, moved to Northern Cyprus. Education: Ural State University (now Ural Federal University), Faculty of Political Science and Sociology. Professional Experience: Since 2008, worked in the…
