It is all about getting back to basics

Since time immemorial, Cretans have eaten only what their land produced. Thankfully, the local climate favors the natural growth of various fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and many other ingredients. As a result, Cretans have found solace in simple dishes with minimum processing.

The simplicity of Cretan cuisine is one of its main advantages. After all, once you use fewer spices and aromatics, the pure favor and distinctiveness of the elements remain. And when you have such good raw material, it makes sense to let it shine on its own.

Cretan gastronomy is also known for its flexibility and creativeness. Households may have wild greens for lunch and evening, but the two meals may look nothing alike. The resourcefulness of the Cretan people translates to their cooking. There are hundreds of ways, if not more, to cook a set of wild greens, beans, or any other raw ingredient.

It comes with significant health benefits

The main reason why Cretan food has become known all over the world is no other than its health benefits. Although it is also scientifically proven with various medical studies, you only have to look at the lifestyle of the locals to notice the many benefits of the Cretan diet.

Traditionally, people on the island live a simple yet very active life. They wake up early, go to the fields, work hard, visit their families and spend time with friends. If it were not for the food in Crete, locals would not be able to sustain that level of activity in their lives. Although less common today, this lifestyle still exists in small and remote villages.

And if you ever doubt that, you only have to look at the thousands of published scientific papers that study the effects of the Cretan diet. Although the list is endless, two of the most known health benefits include the scarcity of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

It is the backbone of the Mediterranean diet

Cretans often do not like to hear about the “Mediterranean” diet and instead talk only about their “Cretan” cuisine. Yet, Crete is part of the Mediterranean Sea and has developed a distinctive diet that shares several elements with many neighboring cuisines.

In general, the Mediterranean diet comes from the traditional cuisines of Greece, Turkey, and other countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. The foundation of the diet includes plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, seeds, and nuts. That could very well be a definition of the Cretan diet as well. 

However, using the broader term “Mediterranean” does not capture the distinctive features of Cretan cuisine. The two may be similar, but there has traditionally been only one diet on the island. And that is the Cretan diet.

It is a unique cuisine, similar but not the same as Greek cuisine

Just like with the Mediterranean term, there might also be confusion between the Cretan and Greek diets. A similar story applies here too. The dietary pattern of Greeks has historically included a high intake of fruits, wild plants, olives, nuts, and cereals. It is not too different with Cretans, who identify as Greek after all.

But, on what exactly does the Cretan diet differ from the Greek diet? Because Greek regions share a similar climate, they have the same access to unprocessed ingredients. However, from place to place, every population can create different plates from the same elements.

For example, Crete is famous for its many unique dishes. Think of Dakos, fried snails, Cretan salad, or Kalitsounia pies, not to mention the hundreds of local varieties of cheese. In addition, Cretans, mostly those who follow the traditional way of life, consume meat-based products for less than a third of the year.

Its beauty lies in the raw ingredients

The deep taste and aromas of Cretan food lie in the freshness and quality of the main ingredients. Perhaps, no element is more known than Cretan olive oil. Cretes use olive oil in almost any recipe, often even in desserts. It is no coincidence the entire island is a vast olive grove with up to 40 million trees. 

Next to olive oil, greens and herbs are among the most widely used ingredients in every Cretan household. More than 100 species of plants are identified, but no one knows exactly how many wild greens Crete has. And they grow everywhere, from the coastal zones to the higher mountain regions. 

Thanks to its mild climate, the island is also suitable to grow organic vegetables, fruits, and beans. Yet, no matter how good the Cretan food can be, you cannot call a meal Cretan if there is no glass of raki or wine on the table. After all, the island is house to some of the most prestigious vineyards in Greece and the world.