The monasteries of Mt Athos are blessed with gardens and orchards, olive groves, and vineyards, all cultivated by monks. The production of food products from these holdings is mostly small-scale, just enough to cover the monasteries’ own needs. However, some monasteries have managed to standardize part of their production and bring it to the market, generating additional income. These products are genuine treasures, not only because they are rare and produced under challenging conditions, but also because they capture the raw, unspoiled beauty of Athonite nature.

Geographic isolation, lack of any energy infrastructure (there’s no connection to public power sources, either for electricity or gas), rugged terrain, limited road access and a finite labor pool are all factors that restrict the types, quantities and variety of goods that can be produced. For the most part, the monks produce alcohol (wine, strong spirits and liqueurs), honey, olive oil and olives, but according to Nikos Tapouris, head of the online store monastiriaka.gr in Daphne on Mt Athos, the crown jewel of Athonite food products is actually chestnut honey. This honey is of mixed origin, being derived from both the nectar of chestnut flowers and the honeydew secretions of the sweet chestnut aphid.

“Nowhere in the Mediterranean will you find a more bitter and flavorful chestnut honey than that of Mt Athos,” Tapouris said. “Wild, ungrafted chestnut trees in Mt Athos cover over 70,000 acres; this vast forest is considered the largest uninterrupted chestnut grove in the Mediterranean. The sustainable logging of this forest is a main income source for many monasteries. The wood is highly valuable due to its rich tannin content, which makes it extremely resistant to fungi and to decay due to moisture This makes Athonite chestnut wood highly sought after on the Cycladic islands and elsewhere in Greece for luxury construction, both exterior and interior.

“This forest (protected under the NATURA 2000 directive) produces the best chestnut honey in Greece. It has unique properties: intense peppery flavor, a distinctive aroma and a slightly bitter aftertaste, thanks to its high pollen content. It’s also rich in trace elements such as potassium, magnesium, manganese, barium, fructose and tannins. Beekeepers often bring their colonies to chestnut trees to strengthen their insects; the bees love the flowers so much that they become hyperactive, even aggressive, and continue collecting nectar late into the evening. Unfortunately, chestnut honey remains relatively unknown to the wider public, although it is highly sought-after in Central European and Russian markets.”

We Tried and Can Recommend:

Chestnut Honey – Pantokratoros Monastery & Chestnut-Linden Honey – Docheiariou Monastery

Made from nectar and honeydew secretions gathered on ridgelines near the Pantokratoros and Docheiariou monasteries. Dark-colored with a reddish hue, chestnut honey is among the boldest varieties, with a forest-like mystery, deep aromas of coffee and chocolate, and a distinctive bitter undertone. Docheiariou’s bees also collect nectar from linden blossoms, adding further complexity and layers of earthy, leafy aromas and flavors.

Available at: eshop.pantokrator.gr, evosmon.gr, taxiarxes-monastiriaka.gr, toagionoros.gr

Chestnut and Oak Honey – Mount Athos

The Monastiriaka store in Daphne sources honey from various monasteries and processes it into monovarietal blends. Their chestnut and oak honeys are especially unique, sourced from protected forests. The chestnut honey is powerful and bittersweet, while the oak honey, a rare commodity, is intensely flavorful, with harvests depending on the region’s microclimate.

Available at: monastiriaka.gr

Organic Heather Honey – Vatopedi Monastery

A spicy, robust honey with subtle bitterness and a deep red hue, made using traditional methods. Bees are of the local breed, and queens are bred at the monastery. Because flowers bloom almost year-round, bees have a steady food supply. In winter, they feed on their own honey to stay strong, resulting in smaller but richer production.

Available at: vatopedi.com, taxiarxes-monastiriaka.gr, athosnatura.gr, eshop.agioritikiestia.gr

Pickled Rock Samphire – Xenophontos Monastery

Crunchy and well-seasoned, this pickled herb from coastal monastery gardens pairs perfectly with fish or adds zest to salads. It also makes a great accompaniment for tsipouro.

Available at: taxiarxes-monastiriaka.gr, ieramoni.gr

Organic Oregano – Vatopedi Monastery

Aromatic and dried with care to preserve color and scent, this oregano is both cultivated organically and wild-harvested from nearby forests.

Available at: vatopedi.com, taxiarxes-monastiriaka.gr, eshop.agioritikiestia.gr, eikonia.gr

Organic Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Vatopedi Monastery

Sourced from a 4,000-tree olive grove, with some trees over 800 years old. Harvested by hand and then cold-pressed, these olives produce a peppery oil boasting intense aromas of artichoke, almond and herbs.

Available at: vatopedi.com, taxiarxes-monastiriaka.gr

Throumba and Green Halkidiki Olives – Ormylia, Evangelismos Monastery

Rich, densely flavored Throumba olives and crisp, slightly bitter green Halkdiki olives are packed with sea salt, oregano from Simonopetra, must vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.

Available at: ormyliamonastery.com, monastiriaka.gr, taxiarxes-monastiriaka.gr

Florentines – Holy Skete of Saint Anna

Crunchy honey-soaked nut and seed confections made at the Cell of the Dormition of the Theotokos.

Available at: monastiriaka.gr

Mountain Tea – Simonopetra Monastery

Fragrant and strong, this herbal tea grows around the monastery. Can be enjoyed hot or cold, with chestnut honey, lemon or cinnamon.

Available at: monastiriaka.gr

Mixed Fruit Jam – Ormylia, Evangelismos Monastery

Made with apricots, nectarines and peaches from monastery orchards, this jam has a balanced sweetness, gentle acidity and smooth texture.

Available at: ormyliamonastery.com, taxiarxes-monastiriaka.gr

Vegetable Trachanas with Sourdough – Ormylia, Evangelismos Monastery

A Lenten version of trachanas made with wheat flour, sourdough, and a mix of fresh garden vegetables such as carrots, zucchini, eggplant and pepper, this treat is packaged in the monastery’s food lab.

Available at: ormyliamonastery.com, taxiarxes-monastiriaka.gr

Anti-Flu Herbal Tea – Pantokratoros Monastery

A blend of mallow, rosemary, sage, marjoram, thyme, elderflower and oregano, this tea combines wild-harvested and garden plants grown without pesticides. Hand-dried and blended according to traditional recipes, it’s best enjoyed warm, and either plain or sweetened with honey or jam.

Available at: eshop.pantokrator.gr

Bitter Orange Preserve – Pantokratoros Monastery

Made from monastery-grown bitter oranges, this sweet preserve has a chewy texture and bold, long-lasting flavor. It is offered as a welcoming treat to pilgrims visiting the monastery.

Available at: eshop.pantokrator.gr

This article was previously published in Greek at gastronomos.gr.