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There are a number of products that Skopelos and the Sporades generally are known for and differentiate this area from any other Greek destination. Skopelos is very famous for its plums and prunes, its almonds and it’s own type of feta cheese pies (tiropittes) and spinach and cheese pies (spanakopittes). Embroidered pieces, ceramics and other preserves and natural products such as their honey are also well known here. In antiquity the island was very famous for its wine; this is not really the case now however the local barreled wine in most of the traditional tavernas is very palletable. The Sporades and the Volos and Pelion mainland areas generally, are famous for tsipouro (this anise-based alcoholic drink), jarred fruit sweets and preserves and dried herbs. These foodstuffs can be found in local mini-markets, or supermarkets, and also in sweet shops (zacharoplasteion) and some bakeries (fourno). Some of these may be more reasonabe than others; usually those products that have been carefully and beautifully presented and are produced in a sort of ‘cottage industry’ style, tend to be more expensive.

Some of the most important herbs that can be found in this area are camomile, “mountain tea”, oregano, thyme and many more. These herbs are wonderfully aromatic in flavour and help to make food incredibly tasty; some can also be used for more medicinal purposes, also for aiding digestion or promoting relaxation and general wellbeing.

The fact that these wonderful herbs are growing on the hillside means that all the livestock that graze freely on the mountains have a very healthy free life before the goatherd or shepherd takes them for their last walk! With this in mind, apart from the vegetarians who may be reading this, everyone must try some local lamb or goat, as the flavours of the meat are really superb. Most traditional tavernas will serve this (in a nice lemon/oil sauce) or you could buy some from the local butcher, if you have full kitchen facilities or better still a traditional stone outside oven to barbeque! There are three butchers in Skopelos; one is on the ‘ring road’ on the opposite side of the road to the Health Centre, next to a small mini-market. The other two are in the back streets of the town itself.

Fresh fish can be bought from the little fishing boats in the morning sometimes, if
you get up early and go down to the front. Other than that a small red van sells fish
on thefront too, around 9 or 10 o’clock most mornings in the summer; he usually drives the length of the island to sell in Glossa too. If you get a chance to go to Alonissos
(the island just next door to Skopelos - 25 mins away on the flying dolphin), the
fishmongers on the harbour front (tucked away in the right hand side corner) sells
wonderful fish. The fresh tuna steaks from there are a real treat if grilled out in the
open! (it may be a bit smelly to bring back on the hydrofoil with you however!).