Coffee Time paper

Read the November issue here


http://www.coffeetimecorfu.com

IN ENGLISH

page 17 Cosmetics:Are they innocent?

page 18 Body Language

page 19 Anemia


Enjoy!

Coffee Time new issue is online now!

Hello visitors!

Our popular local paper, Coffee Time, is now online and you are the first to read it!

Read the September issue here:

http://www.coffeetimecorfu.com


Remember: Coffee Time is bilingual, Greek-English. And you can become a contributor if you wish!

PS: Don't forget to read my articles! (I.Metallinou) and send me your views!!!

Thanks for visiting,

Liana

Interview with Apostolos Patounis, the owner of the unique Soapworks in Corfu

The shop and soap factory of Patounis family are located in a central spot of Corfu town, at SanRoco square. It is easy to find since it is near the Dassia bus stop, on the way to Ionian University. Don’t expect to see something big or spectacular; it is a pure traditional place that is worth visiting as it promotes natural products. Both residents and tourists should visit it and learn all about the soap making process.

We visited the soap factory for you and interviewed Mr.Patounis. We met him at the shop which is the front part of the building. Behind the shop there is a huge, oblong room which is the actual factory where the soap production takes place.

Would you please tell us about this place?

This place was built at the end of the 19th century and still operates the same way it used to, while at the same time it maintains a big part of the old equipment. As a result, last year it was listed with the Ministry of Culture as a monument of Industrial Archaeology along with its equipment and use. This place is a live museum which is being visited by both Greeks and tourists. We welcome school visits and other educational groups.

Tell us about your family. Where did they start this business?

The first soap factory was set up in Zakynthos in 1850. It dates back to 5 generations! The soap business was started by my great-great grandpa in 1850. That was the first soap business in Greece, and we are now the last we keep on making traditional green soap.

The Corfu plant built in 1891, preserved with its functioning tools and equipment, constitutes a living memory of an old splendid local tradition.

Let’s talk about the soap you make. Any important details you would like to share with our readers?

Pure soap is considered the most adequate skin cleanser since it unblocks skin pores by effectively removing dirt, oily substances and dead cells.

The special characteristic of our soap is that it is being made from natural raw materials and the final product does not contain any additives.

Mr.Patounis is now showing us the inner place-the factory- where the visitor can see the production of soap, stacks of dried soap and the equipment.

As you can see, we still operate in the same traditional way. You can make your own soap at home if you wish. It is easy. It only takes one hour to do so. Here, it takes 10 days. We’ve got 3 types of soap.

• We use local 100% pure virgin olive oil to produce soap suitable for the face and baby care. This type has limited lathering capacity but it is distinguished for its mild action on sensitive skin. This is the Olive Oil Soap.

• Another type of soap is the Olive-Palm Soap that contains 80% pure virgin olive oil and 20% edible Palm-kernel oil. This is a mild soap with rich smooth lather.


• The legendary product is, however, the Green Olive Soap. It is made of olive pomace oil which contains the olive Chlorophyll and is distinguished for its disinfecting properties and wide range of applications.

The above soaps are made using only the basic raw material of traditional soap manufacture, (oil, soda, sea salt and water), with no additives.


I have a question about the Green Olive Soap. Why is it called Green soap-it looks brown actually!

This kind of soap is produced via the heated process. When fresh it is green but later on when it dries it turns to brown. This soap is practical as it is very cleansing. There is also the Green laundry soap which is very effective.


We noticed some tools on a counter. One looks like a hammer.

There are two tools over there. What are they?

The one that looks like a hammer is the stamp of the product. We stamp the soap bars with it. The other one with the long handle and the knife at the edge is for cutting the soap. These tools are the original ones.

How often do you have a production?

In winter we usually have it once a week. In summer, every two weeks.

Any other product you plan to make in the future?

We are preparing a formula suitable for the washing machine. But it will take some time. Soap flakes are used for aphides in the fields.

What else do you sell in the shop?

Apart from soap we sell items for farmers.

Thank you very much! That was a very interesting and educational interview.



Contact info


If you would like to contact Mr.Patounis, email him at

info@patounis.gr

Tel.No. +30 26610 39806
Fax.No. +30 26610 20704

The shop/factory is at

9, I.Theotoki,
49100 Corfu
Greece

Music party in town!

Live now!
The music party by Life Radio station, at www.liferadio.gr
is now on air via a web camera.

The party it taking place now at Plateia Georgaki, in the centre of the town, where all the members of Life Radio take part offering to locals live music.

You can listen to the live party by clicking on www.liferadio.gr.

(On the right side there is a button, it says 'live'- just click on it to download the device needed to listen to the radio).

The party will last till 8 in the evening. They will give away some presents to the people who come to listen to them.

Enjoy!

Local cuisine

Greek cuisine is renowned for its healthy ingredients such as olive oil, herbs and fresh vegetables. Olive oil is the top one healthy food that can get included in almost every single meal. Have you tried cakes made from olive oil? It’s worth giving it a try, even if you may not probably notice a great difference in taste-as I do! Olive oil is healthier than butter or margarine, so replace butter with olive oil and prepare your cake mix as usual. You will create a new version if you also add orange juice (or replace milk completely) and a drop of Greek brandy (Metaxa brand, 5 stars is the best). Less sugar than the usual recipe and add dark chocolate pieces or sultanas to enhance flavor. The result is fabulous! Fluffy and aromatic, this cake is the perfect dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. Go olive oil then and stay healthy! The simple cake recipe: One bag of self raising flour Half a cup sugar 3-4 eggs One cup olive oil 1-2 vanilla essence portions 1-2 oranges (the juice) Some skimmed milk or a yoghurt 2% fat Half a cup of sultanas (optional) One bar of dark chocolate broken in small pieces Some brandy A pinch of salt How to make it: Mix olive oil with sugar and then add the eggs. Add the flour, milk or yoghurt (you can use both if you wish), Add the rest apart from the chocolate. Pour mixture into a tin and add the chocolate pieces one by one so as they are covered completely by the cake mixture. Bake at 150 C (you may need 180 in some ovens) for 3/4 of an hour or until golden. Enjoy it!