To Tea or not to Tea?
Greek Mountain Tea is not technically a tea. The very simple definition is this: all teas – black, green, Oolong, white - can be traced to one plant: the Camellia sinensis. So by this definition, any hot beverage made with an herb is an herbal infusion. An infusion simply means dried or fresh plant parts steeped in boiled water. Chamomile tea: infusion. Mint tea: infusion. So for the serious tea lovers, normally I would use descriptives such as leaf (size, tip, consistency), aroma (the nose), taste (clean, dull, pungent, mellow, etc.) and liquor (the color of the brew) when describing the beverage. Not so in the case of an herbal infusion.
To refer to Greek Mountain Tea as such, however, is not necessarily incorrect.
In fairness, the reference to tea means a different brew in different countries. Asking for tea in England will most likely bring you a robust black tea from Ceylon; in China you would sip a fine Oolong, and in Japan a crisp green tea. When in Greece, if you ask for tea, you will probably find yourself with the floral, earthy, sweet, Greek Mountain Tea. So ask away. Just make sure not to correct a Greek.
The Skinny on the Hefty Tea
These days we read so much about what properties may be found in something we can eat or drink that’s considered beneficial. When I say Sideritis, or Greek Mountain Tea, is good for us, I mean it:
Saponine promotes regulation of the immune system. It is an anti-cancer agent, as well as an antiviral, antidiabetic and antifungal. It also acts as a cholesterol reducer and promotes cardiovascular health.
Flavoniods act as antioxidants, antivirals, anti-allergics, antifungals, antiplatlets, antimicrobals and anti-inflammatories.Iron essential to carrying oxygen around the body, ensures a healthy immune system, and is a necessary tool in the chemical reactions that turn the food we eat into energy our bodies use.
Further proof the Greeks knew what they were talking about way back when? The word for iron in Greek is sideros.
Wild Thyme Honey
for My Tea I discovered this honey while on my quest for teas. Nikos, my new friend from the little tea shop I mentioned, made me buy it. At first I was skeptical as it was pricier than the honey I usually buy. The brand he carries is sold both in a sensual round glass jar, as well as in the heftiest tin of honey I ever did see. At a glance, I thought the tin was a bad buy as it would take me years to finish. So I settled on the more appealing glass jar. But when I brought this nectar home, and dipped my spoon in it, I knew I made a mistake. The indulgence of the texture is unparalleled by anything I’ve experienced before.
Today, the Greeks are very proud of the honey they produce, and rightly so (Greece happens to be one of the largest consumers of honey per capita worldwide). A good honey manufacturer will make sure his product is touched only by two beings: the beekeeper himself, and the bees who made the honey. Wild Thyme Honey is made by bees that feast on thyme growing. |
