When my Greek friend handed me a package of herbs, he said it instantly brought back childhood memories of his grandma preparing him this Greek mountain tea.

Dried flowers and its leaves and stems of the native Sideritis plant is what makes the Greek mountain tea. The plant grows in the mountainous regions of Greece at very high altitude – typically over 900 meters. As you can already guess, this Greek herbal infusion is a real health-booster: it is widely known and appreciated for large amounts of essential oils, antioxidants, flavanoids and other beneficial compounds.

The ancient Greek philosopher Hippocrates was known to praise Greek mountain tea for its plentiful health benefits to the immune system and the respiratory system. No wonder why Greek families have been drinking it for generations and generations!

If you happen to get Greek mountain tea, here’s how to brew it:

1. Use a small pot or a saucepan, fill it with water and add a handful of herbs.
2. Boil it for about 3-5 minutes, depending on how strong you like it to be.
3. Remove it from heat and let it steep for a few more minutes.
4. Use a strainer to pour it into a cup and enjoy it!

And for the cherry on top, you can use a spoon of honey if you like. Greek mountain tea is caffeine-free so it can be enjoyed throughout the day.

ευχαριστώ!

Source: Greek Mountain Tea

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Read more in my blogpost about Portuguese mountain tea from Trás-os-Montes: The Best of Portugal: Mountain Teas

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