Greek Coffees, Teas, and Spirits

Greece's favorite anise flavored drink is potent and fiery and distinctly Greek. More than just an aperitif, ouzo is a social phenomenon and a cultural mainstay of Greece.

Ariani is a direct legacy from the Turkish Ayran, and is especially popular in the Greek regions of Evros and Thrace, which have large populations of Greeks of Turkish descent. It's an acquired taste, but very refreshing once you get used to it. Non-alcoholic, it's reputed to be a great hangover cure.

Of course these teas are not unique to Greece, but they are favorites and enjoyed for their tastes and perceived medicinal benefits. Learn more about the teas, how to make them, and what they look like.

Camomile (or chamomile) is a favorite in Greece where it grows abundantly and is gathered in the wild.

Ouzo, Greece's famous anise flavored liqueur, adds a surprisingly fresh taste when used as an ingredient in recipes for foods ranging from seafood to sweets.

Turning your home into an authentic Greek ouzeri for an evening is easy to do. Here's what you need to know to do it in style, from the traditions of serving ouzo to suggested mezethes to recipes for cocktails containing ouzo.

Frappé is so popular in Greece that many homes have soda fountain-type drink mixers in order to make it even easier. Here's how to make this version of iced coffee by hand.

Greek mountain tea is credited with a wide range of health benefits, and most Greek homes have a supply on hand. Made from the medicinal Sideritis plant, Greeks believe that a cup a day has infinitely more benefits than an apple.

The Sorrento region of Italy is best known for this liqueur, but the Greek version is equally delightful, with its own character.

Louisa, as it is commonly known in Greece, is a popular herbal tea that is believed to help in slimming, as a digestive aid, and for relief of stomach aches.

A treat on a hot day, this non-alcoholic drink is made with sour cherry syrup.

Learn how to make Greek coffee in easy steps with photos. Greek coffee is brewed thick and the grounds are poured into the cup along with the coffee. These steps will help you make the perfect cup to serve with pastries and desserts, or simply with a glass of cold water.

Greece for Visitors Guide, deTraci Regula, calls Ouzo "Greek lightning fit for Zeus's thunderbolts." Learn about this exclusively Greek licorice-flavored liqueur that packs quite a punch.

Pine wine? Check out an acquired taste that Greece for Visitors Guide, deTraci Regula, did, indeed, acquire.

This site is a cooperative venture created by 25 of the most prestigious Greek wineries to disseminate information about the magnificent wines of Greece. Includes regions, grape varieties, and restaurant reviews.

Nick Cobb's site provides information about Greek wines and winemakers, as well as a discussion forum.

Elias Kiritsis is a professor at the University of Crete, and an avid taster of Greek wines.

Different from the "raki" made in Turkey and other places, this distilled liquid fire from Crete is general drunk as an after-meal liqueur from very small glasses. Learn how it's made and about it's history from Sfakia-Crete.com.