Tired of shopping and trudging through streets and malls looking for something unique this Christmas? Paphos is a hotbed of original gifts if you know where to look.
Chocolates are almost-always welcome, and the next big thing in the chocolate world is ‘Ruby Chocolate.’
It is a variety of chocolate introduced in 2017 by Barry Callebaut, a Belgian-Swiss cocoa company. It has been in development since 2004 and was unveiled in 2017. Ruby chocolate was released in 2018, and the chocolate is made from the ruby cocoa bean.
New ruby chocolates handcrafted by award-winning Joulietta chocolatier and patisserie are available from her Paphos shop.
“We have been making them for a number of weeks and are creating Ruby and Champagne truffles and also bars of Ruby chocolate for people to experience the taste,” Joulietta told the Mail.
A box of nine Ruby and Champagne truffles costs €18 and the individual Ruby bars are €5.50 or €15 for a pack of three.
They are created and available at the Paphos shop but they can also be sent anywhere on the island.
If you rather not be tempted to eat the gifts you purchase for others, a voucher to be redeemed at Lockdown Paphos as an alternative.
Opened in 2015 and owned and operated by husband and wife team Matthew and Kate Edmondson, Lockdown is the number one venue for ‘fun and games’ in Paphos, according to TripAdvisor.
The venue is the first and largest of the escape games in Paphos and this winter has three rooms open to play; the Wizzard School- loosely based on Harry Potter, the Tomb of the Kings and a third, titled ‘Space Station’ which opens next week. The venue has five rooms open during the summer months.
“We are launching a brand-new room called ‘Space station which is high tech and we are putting the final touches to it now. Vouchers can be used to play any of the rooms and make great presents,” Edmondson said.
Lockdown Paphos offers an hour of interactive, immersive entertainment, where players work together to recover secret codes, messages and keys by taking part in entertaining logical challenges. The mission is to get out before the 60 minutes are up.
Each themed room is designed so all ages and abilities can get involved.
Two to eight players can be catered for and vouchers start at €20. If two people play a room it costs €20 each, whereas if six play, its only €12 each, he explained.
Vouchers are available from Lockdown which is found just off the Tomb of the Kings Road in Kato Paphos.
In the centre of town, Boo-tea-licious is offering vouchers which can be used to purchase anything from the quaint tea rooms in the heart of the old town.
Owner, Kathryn Swift, creates all sorts of delicious cakes, biscuits, scones, flans, quiches and pastries and also caters for gluten and dairy-free diets.
“The vouchers can be issued for any amount and can be used for any gift, including our afternoon teas,” she said.
Priced at €10 each, the popular afternoon tea includes coffee or tea, a selection of sandwiches with three fillings, large homemade scones, clotted cream, a choice of jams and a choice of cake, she said. Bookings for afternoon tea must be made in advance. For opening hours, check the Boo-tea-licious Facebook page.
If you would rather give family and friends something to keep, a short stroll from the tea house is Ibrahim’s Khan. Recently renovated, the historic building is home to artisans, artists and crafters and a great place to purchase a unique Christmas gift.
House of Olives stocks all things imaginable created using organic olives and Sharen Taylor’s Mosaic workshop has original artworks to suit all budgets. Hand-made jewellery, traditional products and handcrafted items are all on sale in other workshops.
Staying in the old town, Chakra fine art gallery, which opened just over a year ago, is a short stroll away, and focused on making bespoke Cypriot art more accessible to everyone.
“We have a good range of Christmas gifts and small items available from around €30 to €150 euros,” said one of the owners, Joel Dunn.
Artwork, paintings, gifts and small sculptures have all been created by local Cypriot artists. Christmas cards, both handmade and prints, are also available and well-known artist Gabi Boehm has created a range of handbags and other bags using natural material and paints, they depict Cypriot flowers and other images. Her range of Cypriot pomegranate paintings offer a splash of colour to any setting and start at a reasonably priced €30 euros.
It’s also a way to support the Learning Refuge in Paphos. A number of exclusive paintings and drawings created by around 50 artists from around Cyprus to raise awareness and funding for the Learning Refuge, remain for sale following a one-off Paphos exhibition.
All of the works included in the exhibition are the same size and will be sold for the same price €200. The participating artists are donating 50 per cent of the sale price to the children at the Learning Refuge.
The artwork is available to view, by appointment, with artist McConnon
Joulietta Chocolatier and Patisserie: 16A Alexandrou Ipsilandi, Shop 1 (between Lidl and TimeOut kiosk) Paphos. Tel: 70 004004 www.facebook.com/jouliettachocolatier/
Lockdown Paphos: Shop 1, No.4 Parmenionos Street, Kato Paphos. Tel: 96 219883 www.facebook.com/LockdownPaphos/
Boo-Tea- Licious: Paphos Old Town Tel 96 920124 www.facebook.com/bootealicioustearoom
Ibrahim’s Khan, Paphos Old Town: www.facebook.com/ibrahimskhanoldtown/
Chakra Fine Art Gallery, 4 Georgiou Christoforou Street, Paphos old town. Tel: 96957330 www.facebook.com/events/1022944064555034. Miriam McConnon: (m) 99554829
