Vallindras Kitron Distillery in Naxos

Vallindras Kitron Distillery in the village of Halki is one of Naxos' main attractions if you ask me. The distillery has officially existed since 1896, but production began secretly back in 1862 owning to tax reasons.

All production is still in the same place and it is Naxos' oldest distillery. They even uses the same equipment as during the starting year in 1862. In addition, the distillery is still managed by the same family, Irini Fragoudaki is fourth generation owner. In earlier years, there were many Kitron Distilleries on Naxos, today there is only a few.

Before I thought that Kitron was made of lemons, but it is not, although the lemon tree and the citron tree are from the same family. It is the leaves that is used, not the fruit (which is green and tastes awful).

Kitron is available in three colours depending on how much alcohol the bottle contains. The yellow is the strongest and contain 36% alcohol, the white contains 33% and the green 30%. The green contains the most sugar and the yellow the least sugar. The white is something in between. The colour is added in order to be able to tell them apart.

Kitron is available in three colours: white, yellow and green.

There is no export of Kitron, there is simply not enough of Citron trees left. Some Swedes who visited Vallindras became so fond of Kitron that they wanted to import the beverage to Sweden and sell it on good restaurants. They wanted to buy 1,000 cases. Which was the whole annual production! But they got a resounding no.

Inside Vallindras Kitron Distillery one can walk around and look at demijohns and other things related to kitron and ouzo production. Check out the machine that distilling the beverages, it is the same as used already in 1862. There is the opportunity to taste Vallindras' products, and of course buy them.

The family also has two shops in Naxos Town where you also can taste Kitron and ouzo. Their ouzo belongs to the best I have tasted. If you have interest, you can get a little guided tour by Katarina, Katarina (there are two Katarinas) or Tassos. They are very friendly.

Vallindras Kitron Distillery is located in an alley to the left of the taverna in the middle of Halki. Signposts are all around so you can not miss it. They are open every day.

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