There are so many diaspora makers and brands making it easy for us to give Greek-inspired gifts. Whether you are looking for the perfect house-warming gift or for something to give that person who has everything, we have you covered with our official Pappas Post Greek Holiday Gift Guide. From household brands such as Korres to creative new ventures such as the pocket-square company Rare Cut, we’re excited to share our picks with you.
Zelos Greek Artisan: Sweet Greek Summer Topping Set
Zelos Greek Artisan wants their customers to experience the true tastes and flavors of modern Greece and enjoy the same genuine flavors that they grew up with. They only choose organic or natural products, without preservatives, that are produced locally in Greece by small businesses. Sweet Greek summer, a brand new combo for Zelos, features a peach-watermelon marmalade and sour cherry and grape spoon sweets, which are traditionally served to guests in Greece or with afternoon coffee. Is there a better gift for someone’s home? We think not. Shop here.
Mina Stone: Cookbooks
We love chef Mina Stone, who presides over Mina’s, an all-day cafe that brings Greek-insired food to MoMA’s PS1 outpost. Mina has also helped prepare menues for the Greek America Foundation’s Gabby Awards at the Plaza Hotel, works with many notable artists, and has been featured by the likes of Vogue for her fresh, artful take on traditional Greek cooking and recipes she learned from her grandmother. Click here to shop “Lemon, Love, & Olive Oil”, named a New York Times “Best Cookbook of the Year” and which will be as gorgeous on your coffee table as it is fascinating and functional.
Beau D.: Men’s Beauty
Discover a Greek-inspired beauty brand for men, which includes a creme designed specifically for penises. Called Beau D., the brand identifies as a beauty line for men and hopes to smash the stereotype that beauty products are only for women-identified folks. Click here to shop and click here to real our recent profile on the brand.
Korres: Yogurt Cream Cleanser
Giorgos + Lena Korres combined their backgrounds as a pharmacist and chemical engineer to combine the potency of Greek flora with the unique local traditions through innovative natural formulations. Promoting Greek nature, exploring and utilizing its treasures responsibly, working with local farmers, extracting active ingredients from the organic plants these farmers cultivate for KORRES, were all part of the vision from day one. Try any of their products to give your skin a boost from the Greek land – but we particularly love the hydrating, nourishing Greek yogurt cream cleanser.
Aime Leon Dore: Village T-shirt
Aime Leon Dore, founded by Greek-American Queens native Teddy Santis, is a major success story (the business was recently acquired by fashion behemoth LVMH). We love how Santis has found ways to creatively share his Greek background in the brand’s marketing, cafe, and products. This “Village Graphic tee” is one such example. Shop here.
Pappas Market: High Phenolic Olive Oil
Greg Pappas’ very own single-source, high phenolic early harvest extra virgin olive oil from Crete, Greece. This unique olive oil was produced from unripe olives of the “Tsounati” variety that were harvested from the farm of Giorgos Poulakas in Varipetro, outside Chania. Tsounati (or “tsounates” in the plural) are a rare cultivar, or variety of olives found exclusively in Western Crete. Most tsounati trees grow and thrive in higher altitudes. Oil from these trees is scarce and costly to produce, given the fact that these trees only bear fruit every other year.
This High-Phenolic Early Harvest Olive Oil from Crete is certified high-phenolic by Food Allergens Laboratory in Rethymnon, Crete, with 1110 mg/kg of Oleocanthal and Oleacein. A full report is available upon request. Click here to shop.
Yia Mas: Greek Herbal Teas
Yia Mas is a Greek wellness brand that draws inspiration from Greece’s land, folk remedies, and ancient wisdom. Try their Greek herb trio or signature “Hygeia” blend, which contains Greek mountain tea, chamomile, and sage. Mountain tea is the quintessential Greek herbal remedy, which makes it the perfect star of this original blend. Named for the Greek goddess of health, Hygeia is a well-rounded herbal tea drink that packs a punch of antioxidants and tastes just like something our wise Yiayiades (grandmothers) would have brewed. Click here to shop.
The Akia Shop: Dancing Evzonakia Ornament
The Akia Shop creates Greek-inspired products and art meant to inspire joy. While we love everything they do, founder Maria Constantinides’ adorable take on the “evzones” is a favorite. 4 evzonakia dance joyfully around this playful ornament, ready to add a little Greek fun to your Christmas tree! Her ornaments are hand-painted on a durable paper-mache ornament and topped with a ribbon. Click here to shop.
Shop Selini: Filaxto Earrings
For the fashion lover in your life, Shop Selini has curated a selection of Greek jewelry and fashion brands along with their own line of custom t-shirts designed in-house by co-founder Candace Pistolis. Founded by sisters Candace and Christianna Pistolis, the sister duo has a large selection of Greek jewelry at an accessible price point. We love the “Filaxto” earrings from Amaya, inspired by Greek “filaxta,” a type of protective emblem. Click here to shop.
LXS: Tavli (backgammon) board
LXS is a lifestyle brand inspired by the Mediterranean’s hidden gems, in particular, the Greek island of Limnos. Its people and their way of life are rooted in values that keep us both grounded and uplifted; values that we believe are worth sharing with.
Their products are thoughtfully designed to help facilitate our values of meaningful connection, beauty in simplicity, and gratitude for life. Their tavli boards are works of art unto themselves -the outside of cases are also beautiful and worth showing off. Click here to see the colorways and to shop.
Cartoules Press: Karavaki ornament
Kαραβάκια or “Christmas Boats” are a Greek Christmas tradition of decorating boats with lights and putting them on display. This celebration was historically a symbolic welcoming to all the sailors who came home for the holidays but continues to this day throughout much of Greece. Enjoy this tree ornament and carry on the tradition! Shop now.
Rare Cut: Evzone Print Pocket Square
Capture your fold in seconds, and secure it in place all day with a custom printed RARE CUT pocket square in our limited edition “Evzones” print designed by Maria Constantinides of “Akia Shop”.
Built with a patented memory-metal lining for flawless shape retention and natural wrinkle release. Just fold it and forget it. Click here to shop Rare Cut.
