Agriculture in Cyprus benefits from the Mediterranean climate, fertile soil and hard-working farmers. Olives, wine, citrus fruit, halloumi – and the dessert wine Commandaria, with a thousand years of history.
Cyprus, an island famous for its sunshine, beautiful beaches and hospitality, also hides a rich farming tradition going back thousands of years. The Mediterranean climate, fertile soil and hard-working farmers make Cyprus an ideal place for growing a wide range of crops and raising livestock.
The Cypriot landscape boasts olive groves, vineyards, citrus orchards and fields full of vegetables and fruit.
More about the economy of Cyprus in the article The economy of Cyprus.
Grown for thousands of years
Commandaria with a protected designation of origin
Citrus fruit, peaches, apricots, mango, avocado
Halloumi from sheep’s and goat’s milk
Olives are essential – they have been grown here for thousands of years and are used to make delicious olive oil. Wine has a rich history in Cyprus going back to antiquity; the local wines win medals at international competitions. Among the best known are the dessert wine Commandaria and light white wines from the local Xynisteri grape.
Citrus fruit – oranges, lemons and grapefruit – ripens here to a sweet and juicy flavour thanks to the ideal climate. A wide range of vegetables and fruit is also grown, from tomatoes and peppers through peaches and apricots to mango and avocado.
Animals are raised for meat, milk and wool.
The Cypriot cheese made from sheep’s and goat’s milk is known all over the world for its salty taste and firm texture.
Commandaria is a dessert wine with a unique taste. It is made from the white Xynisteri and red Mavro grapes from the Commandaria region at the foot of the Troodos Mountains. The grapes are dried in the sun for several weeks, which concentrates the sugars and aromas, and the wine then matures in oak barrels for at least two years.
It is characterised by an amber colour, a rich sweet taste with notes of honey, raisins and citrus, and a complex aroma with hints of spice and nuts. It has a protected designation of origin and is a symbol of the Cypriot winemaking tradition.
As a dessert wine, an aperitif or a digestif – it goes perfectly with desserts, cheeses and fruit salads.
You will find Commandaria, halloumi and fresh fruit in tavernas and at markets all over the island.
Olives, vines, citrus fruit, vegetables and fruit, including mango and avocado.
A dessert wine from the region at the foot of Troodos, made from dried Xynisteri and Mavro grapes. It has a protected designation of origin.
From sheep’s and goat’s milk.
In oak barrels for at least two years.
Taste a little piece of sunshine and discover the wealth of flavours that Cyprus has to offer.
