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AWARD-WINNING GREEK HERBAL TEAS
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Lemon Verbena

A balmy, zestful combination of three varieties from around the country makes for a calming, gentle, citric treat.

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Bright lime settles into calm ochre tones on steeping. Soft, mild lemon with a gentle edge and the faintest hint of violet evokes late summer evenings.

IN CULTURE

Also known as ‘shepherd’s tea’ and ‘ironwort’, sideritis grows all over Greece above around 1000 m – from where it gets its other name, mountain tea.

Sideritis translates as “he who is made of – or has – iron.” The mythology goes that it was used to cure wounds caused by iron in battles.

Also according to Greek mythology, this tea was the food of the Titans, and grandmothers still urge their grandchildren to drink at least a cup a day to make them a strong as a Titan. It is immensely popular.

OUR RECIPE

Discarding stalks and even leaves was the masterstroke. Just pure whole flowers for a light and floral infusion.

The plants are all harvested in the early morning, hand picked and dried to traditional methods, left hanging in bunches in well-ventilated barns.

Our ‘flowers only’ policy is more labour-intensive, but worth it. They are hand packed to ensure they arrive in pristine condition.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Even in ancient times the Greek philosopher Hippocrates, the forefather of modern medicine, lauded sideritis for its benefit to the immune and respiratory systems.

Mountain tea is naturally caffeine free.

Modern studies have shown that it has antioxidant properties similar to those of green tea, plus anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Other studies have shown cardiovascular and intestinal benefits, helping lower blood pressure and reducing inflammation.

MOUNTAIN TEA

The red earth of Thessaly clings to the boots of the men in the barn, it crunches lightly on the concrete underfoot; some falls from the eldest, 90, as he leans forward in his chair to talk.

The full story can be found inside our packs.

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