Greeks are not recognised for being avid tea drinkers, in contrast to the British, Turkish, and Chinese. Greeks drink the least amount of tea in the world—about a quarter of a kilogram—compared to Brits, who average almost two kilogrammes and Turks, who average 3.16 kilos annually.
But there is one type that Greeks are becoming more and more fond of. Greek Mountain Tea is the local specialty, and when people DO drink it, it’s typically in the winter.
Stefanos Papatzialas, a distributor and expert in tea, tells CGTN that the tea plant from which we obtain the leaves for making tea “does not grow in Greece; it needs a more tropical temperature.”
“We do, however, have a wide variety of fragrant plants and herbs that we utilise to brew Greek mountain tea. We refer to it as sideritis in Greek.”
Greek mountain tea was used as a medication and a refreshment in ancient times, as well as a beverage to treat wounds and ailments. It is still linked to preventing deteriorating health, but Papatzialas explains that it is becoming more and more well-liked as a non-medical beverage.
“Greeks didn’t drink tea frequently forty years ago; they only did so when it was cold or when someone was ill. But lately things are changing: There is now a large choice of teas available on the market, and we notice more and more turning to tea. In the last year alone we’ve witnessed an eight percent increase in consumption.”
There are now an increasing number of locations offering a variety of teas from around the globe, including those from China, India, and Russia. These tea shops inform you of what you are purchasing, where it comes from, its advantages, and how it is made.
Mountain tea, so termed because it is typically produced at altitudes greater than 1,000 metres above sea level, was also utilised by ancient, medieval, and contemporary Greeks to improve focus and memory. It is still by far the most well-known and widely used plant in the nation.
It is light, loaded with health advantages, and simple to prepare. Simply grab a pot, fill it with water, add the herbs, and after three or four minutes of boiling, it’s done. While some prefer it plain, others like to add honey. In any case, it’s gaining popularity as an alternative to other beverages.
According to Evaggelia Tzoka, a tea shop employee, “tea puts you in a Zen mindset.” You can even clear your body of impurities depending on the type you drink, and it calms you.
It provides an alternative to the other hot beverage that is widely consumed worldwide.
“It functions well in place of coffee. Most new customers who visit us want to drink less coffee and look for something else, and they frequently achieve that balance by switching to tea.”
Greek tradition has long included drinking tea, whether it’s for enjoyment or to feel better. And right now, it seems to be a drink that is finding its way into more and more Greek homes.
Mountain tea. In addition to being popular in Ikaria, mountain Greek tea is also widely eaten throughout Greece, according to Paravantes-Hargitt. The taste and health advantages make it the only item on this list that could take a little more work to find.
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