Ironically, it was modernity that forced Thodoris to turn to his calling in the first place.

In his twenties, while working to become a licensed beekeeper, he decided to double as a tour guide. It seemed like the best way to transfer his love for Crete’s unspoilt landscapes - especially the White Mountains and Samaria, the cherished birthplace of his father.

But then the government debt crisis struck. As the tourist numbers dwindled, Thodoris was forced to fall back on his secondary source of income and his first love: honey. In this respect, Meli (honey) Viglis is both a homage to his father and a symbol of resilience in the face of crisis.

Meli Vigli Samaria owes its unique flavor to Samaria’s distinct variety of herbs such as salvia, satureja thymbra, origanum majorana, thyme, and sideritis syriaca which is only found in Crete, and is better known as the Cretan Mountain tea. Much like the gorge, its taste relieves the stress of daily life, connecting you to something transcendent and unchanged through the ages.