Pelion is often simply referred to as the mountain. Which may explain why the location is closely associated with winter-time holidays. Even so, most sides of the mountain, at the southeastern part of Thessaly in Greece’s north, are flanked by the sea, like an island, which makes it unique.
Pelion’s biggest advantage, still largely unknown to most, is the soil coverage on the mountain. Some parts of its slopes are rocky and rugged. But, for its greatest part, the mountain is covered with abundant soil, assuring its dense vegetation, and, by extension, natural fertilization resulting from the falling leaves and branches. The rich humidity maintained here, as well as the abundant springs, make the soil particularly fertile.
The richness of the terrain, along with its close proximity to the sea and the region’s frequent rainfall, even during summer, delivers products of exceptional quality, in certain cases unique.
Visitors to Pelion should buy a number of things before they leave, not just as souvenirs, but as top-quality products. Gardenias, fragrant flowering shrubs, are one of the most renowned things Pelion has to offer. Grown in shady conditions, strong and resilient, they produce dozens of buds producing big, fragrant flowers. Also, the gigantic hortensias, hydrangea flowering plants, coloured pink, purple, blue and white, are impressive. They adorn dry stone walls at villages and, naturally, are available to buy, full blossomed, at nurseries. The Pelion mountain’s rich flower range also includes camellia shrubs. Filled with red flowers, these robust plants grow to reach tree-size proportions.
All the aforementioned flowering plants can be found in big numbers at mountain nurseries, especially in the villages Makryrrahi, Zagora and Anilio.
Moving on from flowers, the local peaches (lemonorodakina), yellow-coloured, inside and out, are Pelion’s most impressive fruit offering. In season between July and mid-August, they are juicy and full of flavour. Definitely try.
Pelion’s petrokerasa cherry production cannot meet the overwhelming demand for this product. Most of these cherries are grown in the Zagora area, and, generally, Pelion’s northeastern part. The flavour and crisp of this cherry remains unforgettable.
The area’s zagorin apples, belonging to the starking delicious variety, have put Zagora and its exceptionally successful cooperative on the map. There is no better starking delicious apple in the Greek market. It is crisp, juicy, rich and sweet. Some producers in the region prune their trees in specific ways to produce apples that are bigger than normal.
Don’t hesitate. If you do find, definitely buy some tsitsiravla, the foliage tops of wild pistachio trees collected by locals and pickled with small amounts of garlic. Besides being an exceptional side mezze dish for a glass of tsipouro, tsitsiravla can also be used as a salad ingredient or for omelettes.
Pelion’s chestnuts, limited in output but high in quality, as well as the region’s olives and olive oil, especially from southern Pelion, producing tasty black olives and light extra virgin olive oil, are also significant Pelion products.
Finally, small amounts of asparagus and mushrooms are available here during their season and sold by a few passionate collectors. Don’t skip the opportunity to buy some should your paths cross.
