Tsagkaris Amygdalota

Tsagkaris is the home of Hydra's celebrated amygdalota — soft almond macaroons made from almonds, icing sugar, fine semolina and rose (blossom) water. In 1930 Aristidis Tsagkaris opened Hydra's first pastry shop and was the first to sell these almond sweets, which until then were made only in island homes for weddings and celebrations.

Nearly a century on, the family still follows the same recipes — now a fourth generation with Dimitris Tsagkaris, who a few years ago created the shop's first amygdaloto ice cream, made with pure ingredients and no preservatives. The almonds come from Nafplio and the blossom water from the very same supplier as at the start.

A little box of Tsagkaris amygdalota is the classic edible souvenir of Hydra — you will find the shop right on the Hydra harbourfront.

More: tsagkaris.com.