The 3rd Annual Fava Festival kicks off on the small Cycladic island of Schinoussa, in the Municipality of Naxos, on Monday, July 7. The festival pays tribute to humble yellow protein-filled fava bean that is served as an appetizer or side dish in Greek cuisine.

The dish is particularly popular in Schinoussa that has its own variety of fava bean – known as katsouni (meaning “cucumber”) because of its shape. Schinoussa’s fava even won 1st place in the Cycladic Gastronomy Festival on the isle of Sifnos in 2012, spurring on the birth of the island’s own fava festival. In fact, the award heralded a fava renaissance of sorts on the little island that is just 9km long.

Historically, the katsouni variety of fava was brought to Schinoussa from Amorgos when families first moved here in the early 19th century. Back then, 300-400 kilos of fava were produced per year. These days, it has grown to 5 tons with producers expected to double or even triple over the coming years.

The fava festival fun takes place at the courtyard of the local school of Schinoussa and brings traditional live music by popular musicians, dance and, of course, lots of fava. The celebration is timed to take place with the end of the fava harvest season that coincides with the start of the tourist season.

Last year over 1,000 people from Athens and neighboring islands attended the event that is organized by the island’s local fava producers, business owners and the Cultural Association of Schinoussa with the help of local volunteers.

The festival kicks off at 9.30 p.m. on Monday, July 7. Everyone is welcome and admission is free. For more info, call the Cultural Association of Schinoussa on (+30) 6938-717320.