The island of Syros is renowned throughout Greece for its delicious local sweets, which are a must-try for anyone visiting the island. It’s not uncommon to see travelers returning from the local port or airport carrying boxes of confectionery as souvenirs for their loved ones. Loukoumia, or Turkish Delight as it’s commonly known, is the most popular sweet in Syros. It was brought to the island by Greeks who returned from Asia Minor in the 19th century and has since become an integral part of the island’s culinary culture.

While you can find boxes of loukoumia for sale all over the island, visiting a factory to witness the production process is a unique experience that’s not to be missed. The gelatinous cubes of icing sugar-dusted, melt-in-your-mouth heaven are made by slowly heating sugar, water, and starch in copper cauldrons. They are then scented with flavors like rosewater, mastic from Chios, and bergamot.

In addition to loukoumia, Syros has two other popular sweets in its sweet trilogy. The first is halvadopita, which is a gooey nougat made of honey, sugar, vinegar, egg white, and almonds sandwiched between confectionery wafers. The other is pastelaries, a sesame bar made with dried figs and almonds. All three sweets are perfect for a quick energy boost while on the go, but loukoumia is best enjoyed with Greek coffee or a glass of chilled water at any time of the day.