Bread plays a large role in a Cypriot home. In almost every meal prepared one will find bread on the table, whether it is for breakfast as toast, lunch as sandwiches or dinner. Bread will complement almost every meal ranging from meat dishes, fish, lentils, soups and even in some cases pasta dishes.

Unlike many other countries the Cypriots are content to eat the bread as is, with out spreading butter over it. Only in the case of sandwiches or toast is butter used. The traditional bread in Cyprus is round not rectangular.

Years ago, locals began experimenting with the traditional bread by add extra ingredients to the mixture. Some of these ingredients include olive pieces, cheese, nuts, halloumi, etc. The additional ingredients have produced great results.

There are special names given to the bread with the added ingredients. For example bread with olive pieces is called ‘elyopita', bread with cheese is called ‘tiropitta' and bread with halloumi is called ‘halloumopitta'.

This bread is made in different shapes. Some make it in a large round forms, other in many small round forms, and other in rectangular shapes and many other forms more.

This bread has many different uses. When guest visit, the bread can be frozen so the host will take out as much bread is needed and warm the bread up. The bread will be offered with the tea or coffee served. This proves beneficial as most Cypriots always have ‘special' bread in the deep freezer and therefore will always have some thing to offer guests.

Children can take the bread with them to school or even eat the bread as lunch when they return home from school. There is even bread with ham and cheese pieces. This proves favourable as the bread is a fast snack that contains the same ingredients as a sandwich yet takes half the time to prepare as one needs only to warm it up.

In most bakeries they offer these different types of bread fresh and made daily. It is no wonder as to why there are about 100 bakeries in Cyprus as the demand for bread is high. Not to mention that bread is also available at kiosk, supermarket, and mini-market and often at fruit shops.

If ever a foreigner invites a Cypriot for a meal always remember to make sure there is a loaf of bread on the table. People who have not yet tried the different bread available, then it will be to your benefit to try at least one of the ‘special' bread.