My mum has never been abroad. In fact, she doesn’t even have a passport. But for the longest time I’ve been telling her she’s missing out on so many amazing experiences, cultures and food from around the world.
It’s easy to find food ‘inspired’ by Mediterranean adventures - in Manchester city centre alone you’ve got Greek Grill House on St Peter Street, to Dimitri’s on Deansgate. But I find it’s not quite the same as being on holiday, where everything tastes better by the sea.
Now Vida is giving customers a chance to experience a taste of Greece from the comfort of their sofa, with no need to hop on a plane. All you have to do is hope the Great British weather plays nice.
I received their Greek hamper and it’s the perfect gift for my flightless mum this Mother’s Day.
The hamper includes an array of traditional Greek foods, including Maltby and Greek early harvest extra virgin olive oil, and organic kalamata olives.
Whenever we go to the Manchester food market, mum’s always scouting out the Mediterranean stalls for olives and feta to bring home, so these items will be a welcome addition to her salads.
Also in the neatly packaged box were some drained Santorini capers, which will be something new for us both to try.
Capers are small flower buds grown in the Mediterranean on the Capparis shrub, and are said to have a sour/salty flavour. I love that about Greek cuisine, as the same goes for feta.
I was really excited about the inclusion of Meligyris organic wild thyme honey because I add honey to absolutely anything.
Maltby and Greek recommend serving it on bread and pancakes with cinnamon and sesame, which is just dreamy.
I add honey to my tea, so it will be perfect for adding sweetness to my morning cuppa, as well as any juices or smoothies.
For those who love baked oats, it’s a great breakfast topper, and can be used in cooking to marinade meat - or even as a salad dressing.
Honey is so versatile, and in Greek islands, it’s actually served as a topping on Greek cheeses like manouri, which I’d love to try.
And speaking of tea, the hamper includes some Anthir organic Greek mountain tea. The brand is based in the west of Greece where they grow all their herbs organically. The tea is said to be an all-round remedy high in antioxidants, and ideal for immune boosting and battling common colds.
The final edible treat in the box was a packet of sun dried figs with a subtle sweet taste, amazing for adding to granola, or enjoying as a healthy snack.
The hamper costs £42.09 , so is cheaper than a flight to Greece, and if you find a suntrap in the garden and grab a hearty red wine, it’s just like being on holiday.
The products in the hamper seem so well thought out and offer a really authentic feel and taste of the Mediterranean, without the stress of navigating the airport.
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