Syros is famous throughout Greece for its loukoumi — a local version of Turkish delight that comes in a wider range of flavours and textures than the mainland variety. Several family-run confectionery workshops in Ermoupoli still make loukoumi by hand, and many offer tours or at least let you watch through the window as the confectioners work the sugar over large marble tables.
The main confectionery shops are concentrated around the market district near the harbour. Buying a box of loukoumi to take home is practically compulsory — the packaging is often as traditional as the product, with illustrated tins and paper boxes that haven't changed design in decades. Look also for halvas and the local almond sweets called amygdalota, which are served at Greek name-day celebrations across the Cyclades.