Greece’s melomakarona, honey-soaked walnut cookies eaten at Christmas, placed second in the world on the TasteAtlas ranking of the best cookies, behind only a Czech Christmas assortment, the food guide said.
The ranking put the Czech Christmas cookies known as Vánoční cukroví first with a score of 4.4 out of 5.
Melomakarona scored 4.3, ahead of Algeria’s Makroud el louse, a almond cookie scented with orange-blossom water, which also got 4.3.
Argentina’s alfajores, sandwich cookies filled with milk caramel, and the Dutch stroopwafel, two thin waffles filled with syrup, tied for fourth at 4.2.
TasteAtlas describes melomakarona as a mix of honey, walnuts, orange and spices such as cinnamon and clove.
After baking, they are dipped in honey syrup and sprinkled with ground walnuts.
Their name roughly means “honey macaroons,” and they are a staple of Greek holiday tables, usually served alongside kourabiedes, the buttery almond cookies dusted with powdered sugar.
Other Greek sweets also appeared.
Amygdalota, almond and sugar confections, and moustokouloura, cookies made with grape must, each scored 3.9. Kourabiedes scored 3.8.
The ranking is not a tasting panel’s verdict. It rests on ratings from users of the TasteAtlas platform.
For the Oct. 12 update, the site logged 18,887 ratings and counted 12,475 as valid.
TasteAtlas says its lists are meant to highlight local flavors and traditional recipes, not to be a definitive judgment of world cuisine.
Still, the result is a boost for Greek food ahead of the holidays.
TasteAtlas rankings often circulate widely in Greece, where earlier lists have put the country’s cheeses, olive oil and desserts among the world’s best.
By Sofia Paftounou
