Prepared for some drinks in Greece? Right here is our information to twenty drinks from Greece you received’t wish to miss.
- Agiorgitiko
- Assyrtiko
- Ayran
- Ellinikos
- Espresso Freddo
- Frappe
- Kumquat Liqueur
- Kitron
- Mastika
- Metaxa
- Ouzo
- Rakomelo
- Retsina
- Soumada
- Tentura
- Tsipouro
- Tsai Tou Vounou
- Tsikoudia
- Vinsanto
- Visinada
A part of going to any new vacation spot is attempting out the native delicacies. However that must also lengthen to the native tipples too!
Should you’re quickly to go to Greece, be it the mainland or any islands, it will be against the law to not get pleasure from some native delicacies – just a few drinks.
Many various drinks are synonymous with Greece, and if you wish to learn about what you’re attempting, you’ve come to the suitable place.
Let’s take a look at the highest 7 Greek drinks:
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Kitron – Naxos
When you may assume that it means the drink tastes similar to lemon, you’re mistaken; it’s barely completely different however equally as scrumptious! Kitron hails from the island of Naxos and comes from the citron tree, or Citrus Medica, to offer it its precise identify. It has grown on the island for over three centuries, and it’s one among its essential exports.
You’ll discover two kitron distilleries on Paxos, and you may go to and take a look at how they make the drink, in addition to tasting some for your self. These are Pomponas and Vallindras.
The leaves of the kitron tree are picked after which mixed with water earlier than going by means of a fancy distilling course of a number of instances over. You’ll discover inexperienced kitron, which is round 30% alcohol and tastes fairly candy. Then, you’ll discover a clear model of roughly 35% alcohol, earlier than the strongest at 40% alcohol, which has a gold colour and tastes extra bitter than candy.
Kumquat Liqueur – Corfu
That is 100% one of many drinks from Greece you cannot miss. Should you’ve by no means seen a kumquat, these are tiny orange fruits that develop on timber. They’re scrumptious in their very own proper, however in 1860, on the island of Corfu, a British man determined to show the fruit into alcohol. It’s been made ever since!
Within the Nineteen Sixties, a kumquat liqueur distillery opened in Corfu City, owned by the Mavromatis household, and it stays there in the present day. This Greek liquor is without doubt one of the island’s greatest exports, and when you style it, you’ll see why.
It has a candy style and round 22% alcohol content material. The beverage is made by preserving the fruit in a sugar syrup, giving it that candy, nearly golden style.
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Mastika – Chios
Should you’ve ever been to the island of Chios, one factor you will note loads of is the mastic tree. Mastika is a Greek alcoholic drink constructed from the resin collected from the tree after which blended with sugar, distilled, and left to create an alcoholic beverage from Greece that’s each potent & scrumptious. It tastes a little bit herby, nearly pine-like.
Mastika might be one of many oldest drinks within the nation, as its manufacturing dates again round 2500 years. It’s thought that Hippocrates himself loved a tipple, and plenty of believed that the drink may assist with digestive issues.
Lately, mastika is stored within the freezer (don’t fear, you received’t get ice cubes) and served ice chilly. This is without doubt one of the drinks in Greece that’s usually consumed after a meal, however it may be blended into Greek cocktails, too – albeit robust ones! By itself, mastika has an alcohol content material of round 15%, relying upon the model.
Tentura
Tentura hails from Patras and has been made since across the fifteenth century. This can be a Greek alcohol, particularly a liqueur, constructed from fermented cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and mandarin, giving it a fruity but heat style with a cinnamon scent.
The standard option to serve tentura is in a small glass with a little bit of ice, served at room temperature. However some folks add it to different drinks, usually espresso, to offer it a hotter style. Alone, tentura has an alcohol content material of round 25%, however it’s usually blended with different drinks, making it a lot stronger!
Tsikoudia – Crete
Tsikoudia has been made for lots of of years on Crete and remains to be highly regarded in the present day. For many who have tried raki in Turkey, tsikoudia isn’t that dissimilar because it has hat nearly aniseed style that’s fairly robust. For some, it’s an acquired style, however it’s one thing it is best to attempt, and it’s recognized to get the dialog flowing!
Tsikoudia is constructed from the skins of grapes, and so they’re left for just a few weeks to ferment earlier than being distilled. You’ll discover a number of completely different manufacturers of the drink throughout Crete, that are exported outwards and fluctuate in energy. This may be something from a nonetheless robust 40% all the way in which as much as an especially robust 65%. So, should you’re going to do this, proceed with warning.
Tsipouro
Tsipouro is a well-liked drink that’s one other very robust possibility – it may be something between 40-60% alcohol content material, so once more, watch out! It’s been made since across the 14th century throughout the nation however originated on Mount Athos, created by Greek Orthodox monks. These days, you’ll discover it throughout the nation and even so far as Macedonia.
The standard option to drink Tsipouro is over ice and with meals – to soak it up! Like Tsikoudia, this drink is constructed from grape skins but additionally vines. You’ll discover many various manufacturers of Tispouro, and it’s a highly regarded drink with a really robust taste, once more, not dissimilar to the Turkish raki you might have tried previously.
Ouzo
You’ve little doubt heard of ouzo, however have you ever ever tried it? This can be a robust drink that’s well-known throughout the nation and past. Once more, it’s bought that anise kind of style to it, a little bit like raki and even sambuca. It ought to be consumed rigorously and carefully, as with all Greek alcoholic drinks.
Ouzo comes from Lesbos, a lovely Greek island constructed from the stalks and skins of grapes. Aniseed is added to the distilling course of, and some herbs. The alcohol content material will be something between 37-50%, relying upon the model and whether or not sugar has been added or not.
Regardless of its origins on the island of Lesbos, you’ll now discover many distilleries throughout the nation, with varied recipes every manufacturing facility calls its personal. That’s the reason you have to discover a model that you just get pleasure from, as they might differ relying on the place you buy your ouzo.
Should you drink just one Greek beverage once you go to Greece, it ought to in all probability be Ouzo as a result of it has such a key place within the socializing tradition of Greece. You need to drink ouzo chilly, with ice and with meze. By no means try and drink ouzo with out meals, as you’ll in all probability end up extraordinarily drunk in a short time!
So, inform us, which Greek drink will you attempt first?
