Thessaloniki residents and bakers are working together to create the world’s largest ‘Koulouri’ (traditional Greek sesame-coated bread ring). The ring will have a diameter of 150 meters in order to encircle the city’s iconic White Tower.

They’ll begin to create their ring at noon on Saturday, October 18, in the framework of other activities in the city on the occasion of the World Rowing Coastal Championships in Thessaloniki. The baking process is set to start in the morning of Sunday, October 19. Considering how a gigantic stove has yet to be invented for a bread ring of such epic proportions, the bakers have found a way to join 250 bread pieces in a puzzle.

The creators hope that the enormous koulouri will make it to the Guinness Book of Records as the largest bread ring ever to have been created in the history of mankind! After a few photo opportunities, visitors to the White Tower will be able to eat it together.

How the koulouri came to Thessaloniki?

 

The traditional Greek sesame-coated koulouri is known around the country as Koulouri of Thessaloniki, however the creation of this bread ring is actually rooted in the Byzantium and has origins in Constantinople. The first bakers of this type of bread were Greeks and Armenians. Population exchanges between Turkey and Greece saw the koulouri travel to Thessaloniki. Vendors sell this chew bread everywehre and it is also popular in Istanbul where the koulouri is known as “simit”.