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  • Judy Zinszer learned to make her latest cookie, the Koulourakia, on a trip to Greece. Don Knight

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January 11, 2012

Greek goodie

Judy Zinszer finds inspiration for new cookie on island of Patmos

By Theresa Timmons For The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON, Ind. — The Greek island of Patmos, as mythology claims, was lifted from the bottom of the sea by the god Zeus.

Christian tradition holds that the island, known as “the Jerusalem of the sea” is the site of John the Apostle’s apocalypse.

But for Anderson resident Judy Zinszer, owner of Zinszer Bakery and Cookies, 2245 Broadway, Patmos has a sweeter significance. It happens to be the place where she met her latest cookie.

Specifically, it was Skala village, which is the most populated settlement on Patmos.

Zinszer, who collects cookie recipes from around the world, described the picturesque scenery.

“There are winding little streets, with shops and bakeries, and Internet cafes,” she said.

It was among these local businesses that Zinszer came across the shop “Sweets of Patmos.”

She met baker and owner Ivone Sideris, who shared the cookie recipe.

“It is called Koulourakia. It is to Greece what the chocolate chip cookie is to us,” Zinszer said.

The buttery cookie is not overly sweet, but full of flavor. It can be made in various shapes, such as twists or circles.  They are often topped with sesame seeds.

Zinszer added her own twist to the cookie — a special ingredient that is also unique to the Greek island of Chios. Mastic, the sap from a seaside shrub, is harvested during the summer. The liquid is known as “Chios tears” and after it is sun-dried and hardens, the beads are chewed like gum.

“Everyone goes around chewing mastic,” said Zinszer.

She was able to find a softer, taffy-like bottled version of mastic oil at an herb store in Athens. Adding it to the cookies infused a sweet, faint flavor of pine.

Zinszer learned that mastic offers more than pleasant flavoring to the cookies.  It is purported to have medicinal and healing qualities.

“Mastic is said to cure stomach ulcers and colds.  A team of Swedish doctors have done research and verified its healing properties,” she said.

Judy Zinszer has had many opportunities to travel extensively throughout her life, but she and her husband, Ken, began collecting cookies recipes from around the world and offering them through the doors of their bakery about 10 years ago.  

Their next planned trip will include a visit to Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Hong Kong, as well as Thailand and Bangkok.  Zinszer is looking forward to an unusual experience in Thailand.

 “We will be visiting an elephant camp. We will each be assigned an elephant for two days … we will live with the elephants, ride them, feed and bathe them.”

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