Discover This Family-Owned Business Continuing Its Legacy Through a 125-year-old Baklava Recipe
There isn’t a headline sweet enough to capture the entire mission of this Greater Philly business. It’s the perfect recipe (pun intended) for a blog–a grandmother, a son, baklava, and a mission to help those with Dyslexia. Meet Yia Yia’s Baklava based in Colmar, Pennsylvania.
Yia Yia’s Baklava: The Family History
Before we get into things, you need to know what a “Yia Yia” is. Yia Yia is Greek for grandmother, and in this family, Yia Yia Christine is the main character.
Christine Samaras started Yia Yia’s Baklava 65 years ago, although she didn’t know it then. When she was 5 years old she stood alongside her Yia Yia who used recipes from previous generations.
It wasn’t until she became a Yia Yia that her Baklava recipe would take a new form. With the Greek meander and an illustration of Christine, a logo created a new era for the Samaras family–Yia Yia’s Baklava.
The 125-year-old recipe became a family business, and her son Dimitri found a way to imprint his mother’s legacy by distributing her Greek pastries.
When Dimitri was young, he was diagnosed with severe Dyslexia, which is a learning disability that affects reading skills. After his diagnosis, Christine wanted to find a way to pay for his tutoring, so she took another job and sold Greek baked goods. Throughout his youth, Christine’s efforts to support Dimitri worked, and he would go on to excel academically.
Dimitri never forgot what his mother did for him and now uses Yia Yia’s Baklava to give back to the people struggling with Dyslexia.
The family’s goal is to donate 10% of their earnings to the Dyslexia Services Foundation.
The Baklava
You can experience the tasty Samaras baklava recipe in 3 flavors: original, lemon, and chocolate hazelnut.
If you’ve never had baklava, it’s important to know the history of the treat. Baklava is a sweet pastry with origins dating back to the Ottoman Empire, combining layers of phyllo (filo) dough, nuts, and honey or syrup. The recipe eventually spread across the Middle East, Greece, and the Balkans, each region adding its twist.
You can order the Samaras’ baklava online or grab it at a store near you.
Recently, the family launched a crowdfunding campaign to lengthen the shelf life and distribution of their product.
You can read more on their Indiegogo page here.
Essentially, they need funds for a packaging machine that extends the product’s life from 4 weeks to 9 weeks. By doing so, they can expand into newer markets and have even more people enjoy Yia Yia’s baklava.
Take a look at all of the local businesses that are offering the Yia Yia’s Baklava. In a short amount of time, it has become a hit for consumers!
Make sure you follow their journey on Instagram and Facebook.
Supporting Small Businesses
I wrote this blog based on all the information the Samaras family shared in their crowdfunding campaign. However, as someone with Greek roots, it’s always special to write about Greek-owned businesses.
In June 2024, my wife and I welcomed a daughter into this world, and my mother is her Yia Yia. If you’re Greek, you know it’s hard to leave the house without Yia Yia forcing you to eat.
Even if you’re not Greek, think about the moments in the kitchen with your grandmother and know that Yia Yia’s Baklava is bringing that same feeling to your home through its mission.
Support all small businesses and Greek-owned ones by checking out other blogs I’ve written.
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