Tour, Tasting and Grape Harvest at Yiayia’s Tastes

The cottage industry “Yiayia’s (Granny’s) Tastes” was founded in 2006 in the beautiful village of Mirtia (Varvari) near Heraklion, Crete. The motivation for this project came from our great love for the Cretan traditions, and especially of the Cretan diet. Over time, this love was transformed into a passion for producing specialized products that aimed at bringing modern nutritional needs together with the Cretan diet and the local products. Our cottage industry has been built according to the most modern hygiene and safety standards and creates high-quality products made from selected raw materials and ingredients, based on purely traditional recipes of the region. Welcome to our charming village! Explore its picturesque lanes and alleys, visit the ‘Nikos Kazantzakis’ museum, and delve into our workshop and facilities. Learn firsthand about our Cretan products and uncover the secrets behind traditional recipes such as raisins, petimezi, xinohodros trahana, and assorted sweets.

Indulge in tasting our award-winning products at our showroom, where you’ll savor the fruits of our labor.

 As a visitor, immerse yourself in the harvesting and raisinization process. Here’s what you can expect:

Grape Harvest and Winemaking Experience

• Cottage Industry Tour: Explore Yiayia’s Tastes workshop and discover the handmade traditional Cretan products — rusks, jams, dried fruit, and sweets — made with genuine love for Cretan tradition
• Product Tasting: Taste a selection of Yiayia’s Tastes products and experience the authentic flavours of the Cretan diet in their most traditional form
• Grape Harvest: Participate in the seasonal grape harvest in the surrounding Heraklion vineyards — picking the fruit that becomes traditional Cretan grape products

• Delight in panoramic views of vineyards and olive groves stretching to the Cretan Sea.