Escargot de Crete was founded in 2010 on the island of Crete by Dr. Charalampos Kiagias — a pioneer who established the first vertical unit of snail breeding and production of by-products in Greece. Dr. Kiagias grew up on Crete, where the beneficial properties of snails for human health have been known first-hand for centuries.
Today, Escargot de Crete breeds snails in nature using ecological farming principles: the snails live among organically grown olive trees, in direct contact with the sun, rain, wind, and the natural flora of Crete — giving them their unique characteristics. This open-air snail farming is possible all year round due to the island’s climate, producing snails with a minimum environmental footprint.
As a producer of snail secretions, Escargot de Crete has developed production methods resulting in very high-quality snail secretions used in skin care products under the brand name PANACEA3 — regularly measured, announced, and guaranteed for specific quality characteristics.
Farm Tour and Tasting
- Snail Farm Tour: Visit Escargot de Crete and observe snail development at various stages — newborns, 2–3 months, 6 months — learning about sustainable snail farming directly from the farm’s founder.
- Cretan Culinary Tradition: After the tour of the breeding grounds, professional chefs prepare a meal based on snails from the farm, featuring traditional Cretan recipes with local products: Cretan olive oil, aromatic herbs of Crete, Cretan cheeses, and Cretan wine.
- Tasting of Artisan Escargot Products: Taste exceptional artisan snail products — both culinary and cosmetic — and discover why these Cretan snail delicacies deserve greater recognition in Greek food culture.
