Hiking to Ioulida and picnic with local products to Veniamin spring at Aristaios

In the fertile ravine of Mylopotamos on Kea Island — also called Tzia — in the Aegean, the Aristaios family cultivates and produces a large variety of handmade products using traditional recipes.

At the Aristaios store you will find fresh fruit and vegetables from our gardens, wild capers and caper leaves, local olive oil and olives, the local wine of mavroudi variety and tsipouro, as well as handmade trahana and pasta from acorn flour. Also available: traditional liqueurs, fruit in syrup, marmalades, ‘on-the-spoon sweets’ from “ampourkouna” figs, sun-dried tomatoes, wild island herbs, thyme honey, and pasteli.

Local cheeses like kopanisti, xerotyri, and xinotiri, handmade sausages and louza, and fresh wood-oven baked paximadia and pita complete the Aristaios artisan range.

Embark on a hike to Ioulida, immersing yourself in the ancient charm of the medieval stone village — Kea’s atmospheric capital — then venture to the picturesque Veniamin Spring for a delightful picnic featuring the finest local products.

Hike to Ancient Ioulida & Picnic

• Hike to Ioulida: Trek through Kea’s beautiful Aegean landscape to the medieval stone village of Ioulida — the island’s atmospheric capital with its lion sculpture and Cycladic architecture
• Veniamin Spring Picnic: Descend to the natural Veniamin spring for an artisan picnic feast of Aristaios’s handmade products — cheeses, honey, preserves, breads, and seasonal treats
• Island Nature Discovery: Learn about Kea’s extraordinary landscape, flora, and the traditional farming practices that have shaped the island’s food culture for centuries