If any Greeks are looking at these pictures they will immediately recognise this as “βανιλια” or “βανιλια υποβρυχιο”. This literally translates as vanilla and vanilla submarine.
In Greece, vanilla fondant is often served as a “spoon sweet”. You dip your spoon in the fondant, scoop a little, dunk it in a glass of cold water and lick it like a lollipop. The longer it’s exposed, the softer it becomes and the easier it is to eat this sugary goodness! You also sip the water as you proceed to finish it off.
It comes in a basic vanilla flavour and there is also one that includes the famous mastic resin from the island of Chios.
I remember the first time I had a friend over from school and my mum served this on a hot day. He was beside himself!
To be really honest, I haven’t had it in years. It’s just when I saw it the other day I had to buy it. It reminds me of the seventies, the era of my childhood. And it was something I wanted to share with you!
I know there are going to be people who look at this and think “I ain’t touching this stuff…it’s full of sugar”. Yes, it is full of sugar (and glucose) but it’s not something you’re going to indulge in everyday.
It’s a sweet treat best served on warmer days. And really when you consider it, it’s only a teaspoon!
If you happen to buy any of this stuff (look in your local Greek or Middle Eastern deli) make sure your water is nice and cold when you serve it. The rest is pretty self explanantory. Dip. Lick. Sip! (don’t try saying that too fast!…LOL!)
Cheers! And enjoy the weekend.
P.S. I just read the label and it says you can use it as a topping for cakes and biscuits. I think a batch of double vanilla cupcakes are in order soon!
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Hi! I'm Peter. Welcome to Souvlaki For The Soul. My "little" space on the web. My blog is choc full of recipes, travel stories and photos. Have a good look around and enjoy your time here. Cheers!
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Beautiful photographs, makes me want to drink some too !
I love the photos, Peter! Beautiful!
Interesting! I’d love to find that product here…
Nice summery clicks!
Cheers,
Rosa
Simple beautiful, just love!
Wow, I’ve never heard of that before – I’m not a sweet person but sounds like a fun experience! Will keep an eye out for those jars.
I bought a jar of this recently as a gift for my DIL. She loves it.
LOL! Lucky her! Are you sure you’re not really Greek?
Ah, haven’t had this in YEARS, and it reminds me of my childhood too. I was fascinated by it the first time I saw it and tried it. I think it would be amazing served with desserts (or as one) at summer parties and BBQs! Beautiful photos, too.
Proof again. You can take anything and make it seem fabulous. You know how to sell whatever you’re talking about. Someone should hire you as food stylist, photographer AND, have you write the content.
So summer taste!
Long live the greek kafeneio and our mothers’ long lasting afternoon visits to the neighboors!
oh! vanilla spoon sweets!! reminds me of when i was little and my cousins came to visit from ioannina. what a treat!
How different! I’ve never heard of this before, what a cute idea. And I do like the fact that it’s just a tiny teaspoon of sweet. Cool!
Looks good! I’ve never seen this before. Thank you!
I was admiring the light in your photos and reading your post when I came across the sentence “full of sugar and glucose” and my mind spiralled back to when I was little and how we used to have “glucose powder” in cold water on hot days. This was made by Glaxo and sold in green cartons like Milo and was one of the yummiest things I knew back then. Just like you fondant, it was gluey and gluggy in water. I had forgotten all about it, thanks for awakening an old memory
Happy Weekend!
For a second there I thought the glass was filled with a white spirit. Now THAT wouldn’t be one for the kiddies!
LOL! You crack me up!
Oooo vanillia, my all time fav! Some of us have never grown up. I remember going to visit friends on a Saturday with my parents and there would always be vanillia. There is always a jar or two in my suitcase when I am coming back from Athens. have you tried any of the new varieties avaiable in Greece that come with glyko in the same jar? Yumbo!! And yes I have used vanillia as a cake topping and even lightly melted some in the microwave, flavoured it with alcohol and used it to fill chocolates.
Where can I buy this particular brand of Vanilla? You make everything sound so delicious!
My local Greek store carries a limited variety of spoon sweets. I want the one you used- it has to be the best!
o mamma!!!!!
i used to eat when child in athens!
I sadly didnt see this on the Greek tour but got the rundown on spoon sweets, a kind of Greek Cordial! This fondant would definitely be great for cakes. Where did you get this?
What a great thing that must be, wish I could get some greek stuff here but alas… I love the transparency and the light in the photos!
(He, he, he), haven’t had “ypovrixio” for decades but it was delicious and as you say we don’t indulge every day. Next time I’ll see it in a supermarket I’m not going to look at it scornfully, but I’m going to buy one and become a child again. Great photos Peter.
Wow, slightly in love with your first image, I love the crispness of the colours and lighting! Chinese people have Maltose and when my mother was little you’d go to a stall they’d stick a chopstick in a vat of it and twist up the thick gooey sweet stuff and lick it off the chopstick.
lovely site and post enjoyed the pictures
Stunning photos and I love the name “vanilla submarine” sounds like a fun childhood memory.
When on the island of Kea I tried the mastic flavoured submarine. The kids loved it!!!
Hi Peter, I hope you’re enjoying the beginning of this New Year
What a delicious childhood memory:) I’ve never tried such a lovely sweet treat, and I’m so curious now !
Cheers!
Oh wow! I LOVE these!! My hubby introduced me to them a few years back, they gave him a total 70s flashback to his Ma’s kitchen after school. Sugar rush with a 70s vibe is always a good thing!!!
Not touch this? WhachutalkinaboutWillis? This looks like a nice, zero-recipe, zero-effort treat.
I’ll have to consider buying a jar for when friends bring their children over.
Oh! Very interesting. I’ll try to find it in my end of the world. I hope you’re having a great year my friend!
Hi Peter,
I love the fact you wrote about this, the ultimate summer sweet indulgence. Brings back many childhood memories, nor would anyone stop being a kid anyway. Would you know of any shops in Sydney where I would be able to find it?
Love your blog and really enjoyed your salads on this month’s Feast Magazine!
Haris
Nice article and photos! And I remember the ‘vanilla’ from my vacations every year to Greece. But I haven’t eat if for years! I know what I’m going to buy this summer in Greece.
Wow, I have never had or even seen anything like this before! So cool – I love vanilla anything, so I would love to try it!
I’ve never even heard of fondant in a jar! Could’ve sworn that it was a shot of vodka with a sugar spoon in it before I started to read
What a great childhood memory (the sugar, not the vodka of course – ha!) thanks for sharing!
I use this as icing on cookies, but hey, it’s a lot funnier to make a desert like this. It exist in chocolate flavor as well =)
Oh yes. A firm favorite for me.
Luckily our local supermarket stocks this and I can eat jars of it if I need to.
WOW! Took me straight back to summers at Yia Yia and Papou’s! Beautiful shot