The Worst Dishes in Cyprus Revealed

Users of the popular gastronomic tourism website Taste Atlas have ranked the worst dish in Cypriot cuisine, and it has been named shamishi, a well-known dessert.

This pastry was placed 15th in the list of the world's worst desserts, earning a disappointing 3.2 stars.

Despite the low rating, Taste Atlas describes shamishi as a beloved Cypriot treat made of fried, sweet dough filled with a semolina paste. It’s enhanced with cinnamon and orange blossom water, and traditionally sprinkled with powdered sugar.

The name "shamishi" originates from the Turkish term meaning "Damascus' affair." It’s believed that Anatolian Turks first brought this dish to Cyprus during the Ottoman era. You can find shamishi at various local fairs and festivals throughout the year.

In second place for the worst-rated Cypriot dishes are the sweet treats known as "glyko tou koutaliou" in Greek and "maçun" in Turkish.

Third and fourth place goes to loukoumi from Geroskipou and shushukkos, known in Turkish as lokum and üzüm sucugu, respectively. The former is described as a flavored version of Turkish delight, often dusted with powdered sugar or coconut flakes, while the latter is compared to the sweet Georgian treat churchkhela, shaped like sausages.

The lowest-rated non-dessert dish is the traditional Turkish Cypriot meal magarina bulli, made with chicken, pasta, and grated halloumi cheese.