Mountain Tea (Tsai Tou Vounou)
Greek Mountain Tea, herbs grown on the mountain sides of Greece, called Sideritis, or Ironwort. In Greek, the word “sytheronia” means to be like iron. And the sideritis herb lives up to its name. Containing powerful healing properties, the Greeks have been making this tea for generations. When you buy it, it comes stems, leaves, flowers and all.
Don’t feel like you have to separate it from the stems, just break it into pieces and add it to the warm water. Once it achieves its golden hue, it’s ready to drink. Delicious warm, as it’s traditionally drunk, or as I like it on a hot summer day, over ice with a sprig of fresh mint. You can also add an orange or lemon peel to the water to infuse citrus flavor as it steeps.
Recently I decided to let it steep until the color was a deep tan, then I filled a glass with half tea and half sparkling water, which gave it a new dimension. Although this is something that’s been around for a long time, it’s not widely known, and trying new and different ingredients is always something I like to do, I hope you try it.
