Corfu’s Special Cuisine

Corfu’s special cuisine includes dishes like sofrito and pastitsade and the chance to try ginger beer and kumquats.

Bottles of Kumquat Liqueur in the Shape of CorfuKumquat Liqueur Bottles from Corfu

Ginger Beer and Kumquats

One was introduced by the British, the other came from Asia, and the two together show how different Corfu cuisine is from the Greek island norm. Nowhere else in Greece, and indeed in very few places in the world, would you get to sample a dish such as chicken in a kumquat sauce, one of the specialty dishes of the Rex Restaurant in Corfu Town.

The kumquat plant only came to Corfu as recently as 1846, imported from Asia, and the only two places in the Mediterranean where it still flourishes are here and on Sicily. You might see it growing almost anywhere on Corfu, and it looks like a small orange tree, or a big bush.

It is hard to distinguish except when it is fruiting and the small orange fruit appear, though the productive period is quite long and you might see fruit at any time during the first four or five months of the year. 

Kumquats Growing on a TreeKumquats Growing on a Tree

Corfu’s Kumquat Trees

There are about 6,000 cultivated kumquat trees on Corfu, almost all of them around the area of Nýmfes, south of Róda, which has proved to have the ideal conditions for their growth. You know they grow well from the sheer volume of kumquat liqueur that is produced each year and on sale in the shops.

Some Cool Corfu Souvenirs

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Paleokastritsa Luggage Tag

Corfu-Cypresses-Capri-leggings.jpg

Corfu Cypresses Capri Leggings

Corfu-t-shirt.jpg

Corfu T-shirt

Corfu-tote-bag.jpg

Corfu Tote Bag

Kumquat Liqueur

The liqueur comes in various strengths and tastes, ranging from a low-alcohol, watery, sweet liqueur to a more robust drink that is more like Grand Marnier. Don't be put off if you try it once and don't like it. Try a range of them, perhaps at a tasting at the Vassilakis Distillery or their shop outside the Achilleion Palace, or at the Agricultural Cooperative in Nýmfes. And if you still don't like the liqueur, settle for a jar of jam or marmalade.

Our Pick of Greek Islands Guides

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Ginger Beer

The other drink that is unusual and associated with Corfu is ginger beer, or Tsitsibíra, to give it its Corfiot name. This is seen less and less on island menus, though, and it seems that the taste for it is not as strong as for kumquat liqueur. Only one factory, near Kelafatiónes, still makes the drink to the traditional recipe with lemon juice, natural lemon oil, grated ginger, water and sugar. It's a drink which was introduced by the British, the ideal cooling drink to enjoy while watching a game of cricket.

Corfu’s Special Cuisine: Sofrito

There are several food dishes that are also distinctive to Corfu, and which you will see on a lot of restaurant menus. One is sofrito, a casserole made of veal and served with a white sauce produced from wine, garlic, onion and pepper. Every chef has his own version, though, and you will also find beef sofrito, served with a red sauce, and other variations too. As with the kumquat liqueur, you need to try it more than once to taste the different variations.

Corfu’s Special Cuisine: Pastitsada

Pastitsada is the other great Corfu meat dish. It is basically meat of some kind served in a tomato sauce over pasta, but the true version will use cockerel meat, which has a more gamey taste to it than chicken. It isn't always available, and the more common version uses veal. 

Corfu Fish Dishes

For those who prefer fish and seafood to meat, you will also find lobster pastitsada on many menus, though not served in the average Corfu household. Another popular fish dish that is very traditional on Corfu is bourdeto, and this is a casserole using white fish, onions, olive oil, and spicy red peppers, which give the dish quite a bite.

If you see any of these dishes on a menu you ought to give them a try, as these are true island dishes. You can try asking for the recipe if you like, but they are all different. The only thing they have in common is that they’re all sure to contain the chef's own secret ingredient!

Other Corfu Pages

  • The Corfu Climate page describes the hours of sun, the rain, the winds, to help you plan the best time to visit this Ionian island.

    Corfu Climate: Sun, Rain, Winds

    The Corfu Climate page describes the hours of sun, the rain, the winds, to help you plan the best time to visit this Ionian island.

  • This guide to southern Corfu’s beaches and villages includes busy resorts, quiet beach, hill villages and the southernmost tip of Corfu at Cape Asprókavos.

    Southern Corfu Beaches and Villages

    This guide to southern Corfu’s beaches and villages includes busy resorts, quiet beach, hill villages and the southernmost tip of Corfu at Cape Asprókavos.

  • The main two Corfu saints are Saint Spyridon, the patron saint of Corfu who saved the island four times from disaster, and Saint Theodora Augusta.

    Two Corfu Saints

    The main two Corfu saints are Saint Spyridon, the patron saint of Corfu who saved the island four times from disaster, and Saint Theodora Augusta.

  • Information for travelers on Corfu Food and Drink including restaurants and tavernas, Corfiot specialties, desserts, wine and other Greek drinks like ouzo.

    Corfu Food and Drink

    Information for travelers on Corfu Food and Drink including restaurants and tavernas, Corfiot specialties, desserts, wine and other Greek drinks like ouzo.

  • Greece Travel Secrets’ pick of where to stay in southern Corfu including hotels in Moraïtika, Paramonas, Messonghi, Agios Georgios, and near Benitses.

    Where to Stay in Southern Corfu

    Greece Travel Secrets’ pick of where to stay in southern Corfu including hotels in Moraïtika, Paramonas, Messonghi, Agios Georgios, and near Benitses.

  • From Nero to Nicolas Cage, the invasion of Corfu goes back to Roman times and through to Hollywood today!

    The Invasion of Corfu

    From Nero to Nicolas Cage, the invasion of Corfu goes back to Roman times and through to Hollywood today!

  • Corfu olives are an important part of this Greek island's economy, with an estimated 3-4 million trees producing olive oil of exceptional quality.

    Corfu Olives

    Corfu olives are an important part of this Greek island's economy, with an estimated 3-4 million trees producing olive oil of exceptional quality.

  • This Southern Corfu drive starts and ends in Moraïtika, taking in hill villages, secluded beaches, lovely views, and a visit to Gardiki Castle.

    Southern Corfu Drive

    This Southern Corfu drive starts and ends in Moraïtika, taking in hill villages, secluded beaches, lovely views, and a visit to Gardiki Castle.

  • Sidari is a popular holiday resort on the north coast of Corfu with beaches and unusual rock formations as well as plenty of places to eat and to stay.

    Sidari

    Sidari is a popular holiday resort on the north coast of Corfu with beaches and unusual rock formations as well as plenty of places to eat and to stay.

  • The Korission Lagoon on the west coast of Corfu is also called Lake Korission and has abundant wildlife, especially birds, and one of the best beaches on Corfu.

    Korission Lagoon

    The Korission Lagoon on the west coast of Corfu is also called Lake Korission and has abundant wildlife, especially birds, and one of the best beaches on Corfu.

  • The Achilleion Palace is one of the most visited sights on Corfu and contains a museum and impressive gardens with wonderful views over the coast.

    The Achilleion Palace

    The Achilleion Palace is one of the most visited sights on Corfu and contains a museum and impressive gardens with wonderful views over the coast.

  • Corfu writers and artists inspired by the island include both residents and visitors, like Gerald and Lawrence Durrell, Edward Lear, and Henry Miller.

    Corfu Writers and Artists

    Corfu writers and artists inspired by the island include both residents and visitors, like Gerald and Lawrence Durrell, Edward Lear, and Henry Miller.

  • If you want to tour northern Corfu in three days you can see busy resorts, quiet fishing villages, Mount Pantokrator, and the Andinioti Lagoon.

    Northern Corfu in Three Days

    If you want to tour northern Corfu in three days you can see busy resorts, quiet fishing villages, Mount Pantokrator, and the Andinioti Lagoon.

  • Corfu’s marine life includes dolphins, loggerhead turtles, and rare Mediterranean monk seals.

    Corfu’s Marine Life

    Corfu’s marine life includes dolphins, loggerhead turtles, and rare Mediterranean monk seals.

  • Corfu Town is the capital of Corfu and of the Ionian Islands and has museums, two forts, several museums, churches, and many other attractions.

    Corfu Town

    Corfu Town is the capital of Corfu and of the Ionian Islands and has museums, two forts, several museums, churches, and many other attractions.

  • Southern Corfu has busy beach resorts like Benitses, historical buildings like the Achilleion Palace and Gardiki Castle, and wildlife at the Korision Lagoon.

    Southern Corfu

    Southern Corfu has busy beach resorts like Benitses, historical buildings like the Achilleion Palace and Gardiki Castle, and wildlife at the Korision Lagoon.

  • Northern Corfu’s beaches and villages include busy resorts and secluded beaches, with several hill and mountain villages well worth visiting.

    Northern Corfu Beaches and Villages

    Northern Corfu’s beaches and villages include busy resorts and secluded beaches, with several hill and mountain villages well worth visiting.

  • The best beaches on Corfu, chosen by Greece Travel Secrets, include Paleokastritsa, Mirtiotissa, Sidari and Cape Asprokavos.

    Best Beaches on Corfu

    The best beaches on Corfu, chosen by Greece Travel Secrets, include Paleokastritsa, Mirtiotissa, Sidari and Cape Asprokavos.

  • Greece Travel Secrets picks the best time to visit Corfu, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.

    Best Time to Visit Corfu

    Greece Travel Secrets picks the best time to visit Corfu, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.

  • This is the Greece Travel Secrets selection of where to eat in northern Corfu, from classy restaurants and traditional tavernas to beachside fish tavernas.

    Where to Eat in Northern Corfu

    This is the Greece Travel Secrets selection of where to eat in northern Corfu, from classy restaurants and traditional tavernas to beachside fish tavernas.

  • Greece Travel Secrets has its list of favourite places where you can eat in north-west Corfu, including in Paleokastritsa, Pelekas, and Ayios Stefanos.

    Where to Eat in North-West Corfu

    Greece Travel Secrets has its list of favourite places where you can eat in north-west Corfu, including in Paleokastritsa, Pelekas, and Ayios Stefanos.

  • Kalami in north-west Corfu is a hidden gem which many people know about because writer Lawrence Durrell once lived here in The White House.

    Kalámi

    Kalami in north-west Corfu is a hidden gem which many people know about because writer Lawrence Durrell once lived here in The White House.

  • Angelokastro is a 13th-century hilltop fortress with breath-taking views near Paleokastritsa on the Greek island of Corfu in the Ionian Islands.

    Angelokastro

    Angelokastro is a 13th-century hilltop fortress with breath-taking views near Paleokastritsa on the Greek island of Corfu in the Ionian Islands.

  • The best things to do on Corfu include visiting Palaiokastritsa, a day trip to Albania, seeing the Achilleion Palace, and the museums in Corfu Town.

    Best Things to Do on Corfu

    The best things to do on Corfu include visiting Palaiokastritsa, a day trip to Albania, seeing the Achilleion Palace, and the museums in Corfu Town.

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