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Due to the growing problem of obesity associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, causes of obesity are extensively investigated. In addition to a high caloric diet and low physical activity, gut microbiota disturbance may have a potential impact on excessive weight gain. Some reports indicate differences in the composition of the intestinal microflora of obese people in comparison to lean. Bioactive compounds of natural origin with beneficial and multifaceted effects on the body are more frequently used in prevention and treatment of many metabolic diseases including obesity. Sideritis scardica is traditionally consumed as mountain tea in the Balkans to strengthen […]

Greeks are not known for their love for tea, as the British or the Turkish are. However, when it comes to tea, the first variety that a Greek would mention is ”chai tou vounou”, or Greek mountain tea. Sideritis, as it is officially known, has been used since ancient times as a medicine, as well as a refreshment. Ancient, medieval and modern Greeks were also using this herb to boost energy and memory, and up to this very day, it is by far the most popular and famous herb in the country. The term ”Sideritis”, actually comes from the name […]

Greek mountain tea. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Secrets From the Greek Kitchen for Health, Beauty, and Happiness Inspired by ancient wisdom, chef Maria Loi shares seven essential ingredients of the Greek diet BY CRYSTAL SHI June 20, 2019 Updated: June 20, 2019 Share Chef Maria Loi wants to teach the world how to live healthier, happier, and longer. The key to doing that, she says, lies in Greek cuisine and its more than 2,000 years’ worth of wisdom.nate ambassador for Greek food and the Mediterranean diet, which has increasingly gained the spotlight as one of the healthiest in the world. She’s authored several […]

It is known as “Greece’s Grand Canyon,” and its dizzying cliffs are a wonder of the natural world in Greece. Although in depth it does not rival the American canyon, which is more than six thousand feet deep, Vikos Gorge is one of the most lovely and verdant ravines in the country, with a depth exceeding 490 meters (1,500 feet). Part of the Pindus Mountains of Epirus in northern Greece, the gorge lies on the southern slopes of Mount Tymfi, with a length of about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles), a depth ranging from 120 to 490 meters, and width ranging from 400 meters to only a […]

‘Yia Mas’ is an event series and brand dedicated to Hellenism, health, and the community. Beginning as an event in New York City, it has expanded to other states in America and this September the first Yia Mas retreat will be held in Koufonisi, Greece. It’s a ‘salon meets happy hour’, where Kristina Headrick, movement teacher, writer and founder of Yia Mas explains that the idea of the event is for people to “walk away with renewed perspectives and also get the chance to meet others and do some quality networking. They are equal parts- experiential, informative, and social!” Growing up “very Greek American in Virginia” Kristina […]

Mountain tea. (Photo by Eurokinissi/Thanassis Kaliaras) Greece, relative to its size, has many different kinds of plants in its natural environment. Indeed, it is home to 50% of all native plants in Europe! For example, mountain tea in Greece (Sideritis spp.), has 19 different varieties that thrive in various parts of Greece. Dioscorides, an ancient Greek author, mentions the mountain tea called Sideritis, as it was believed to be effective against the wounds caused by iron weapons during battles. The varieties range from the famous “malotira”, the mountain tea found on the large rocks and high outcroppings of Crete (up to […]

*Image courtesy of CNNGreece’s beautiful remote island of Ikaria has been named one of the healthiest places on earth and is a spot of exceptional longevity. Here, there are more healthy people over 90 than any other place on the planet. Ikarians are running at 100! Many say they forget to die! Making it no surprise that the Ikarians’ phenomenal longevity has become a hot worldwide topic. In recent years, more and more people have become fascinated by the lifestyle of Ikarians and want to know their secrets to good health. International scientists have turned their strong interest to learn what it […]

Greek Mountain Tea uses the dried flowers, leaves and stems of the native Greek plant Sideritis (also known as Ironwort). It was first brewed as a tea by Greek shepherds whilst tending their flocks on the mountainsides, and is widely used in herbal medicine as well as for herbal teas. In ancient times, the herbs were used topically to treat battle wounds, and have long been considered a remedy for colds, indigestion, and a general boost to the immune system. As well as having a deliciously sweet, floral flavour, Greek Mountain Tea is packed with natural antioxidants, and has anti-microbial […]

Τσαι του βουνου Sideritis Our grandmothers and grandfathers preferred it not as a drink of pleasure but as a medicine, as they felt the soothing qualities it had on their bodies. As a child and teenager, I was given Τσαι του βουνου tea whenever I started having symptoms of a cold. My grandmother gave it to my mother, my mother gave it to me and now I give it to my children when they have a cold. Our colds never lasted more than 3 days. What my mother didn’t know was that it boosts the immune system, which is why […]

First Things First: History of Greek Mountain Tea Since antiquity, Hippocrates and later Theophrastus and Dioscouridis had focused on the healing action of the herbs. The Mountain Tea was not an exception. Greek Mountain Tea is also called Sideritis spp. In Greek, ‘sideritis’ means ‘iron’ and it is said that the name was given after the healing effect of the plant on the wounds caused by iron weapons. This knowledge is passed on through generations and today dozens of documented studies, from modern medicine and science, are confirming the health benefits of herbs. Mountain Tea is a valuable herb that […]

Posted at 11:35h in Food, MAPs, Well-Being by admin One of the most famous and widely consumed herbal teas in Greece is Greek Mountain Tea, locally known as Tsai Tou VouNou meaning ‘tea of the mountain’. It is also known as Shepherd’s Tea as Greek shepherds would brew it while tending to their flocks high up in the mountains. Made from leaves of freshly harvested Sideritis species, Greek Mountain tea has been drunk for millennia and is touted for its numerous health benefits. Mountain tea generally thrives in rocky places at an altitude of 1000 metres and above. The plant has been scientifically shown to offer a multitude […]

Greek mountain tea – an ancient remedy rediscovered Considering its spread in the Mediterranean and the Balkan Peninsula, it is almost surprising that Greek mountain tea is only now beginning its triumphant advance in the medical field. Already in ancient times people knew about the effects of the tasty tea plant also known as Greek verbena. Traditionally, Greek mountain tea was used to improve psychological balance, to increase mental strength and to prevent age-related problems. The herbal miracle product, with more than 100 different subspecies, grows in the Mediterranean area at altitudes of over 1,000 meters. The botanical name Sideritis is derived […]

Mountain tea is made from plant leaves of Sideritis species. Mountain tea, which is a herbal tea, has been used for many years for healthbenefits. The tea, sometimes known as “ironwart”, is made of fresh harvested herbs in Mediterranean today. Dried mountain tea can be found in healthy food stores or in transfers. It can help health of digestive system and contains natural antioxidants. Flavonoids and Antioxidants In 2011, Journal of Ethnopharmacology published a study on flavonoid content of all plants of sideritis. Researchers have discovered that all sideritis species have anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-spasmodic properties, although more than 150 species are present. It was rich in natural antioxidants, including flavonoids, and contained essential oilsof almost all types. Reduces Blood […]

Turkey drinks more tea per head than any other country and regular visitors to Turkey will have experienced the culture of çay (Turkish tea)… Moutain Tea (Sideritis) is a genus of flowering plants widely known for their use in herbal medicine as well as a herbal tea. The tea (dağ çayı) is made from the dried flowers, leaves and stems of the plant which is found on rocky slopes at very high elevations (over 1000 meters). To brew, simply pour some freshly boiled water in a cup with a couple of mountain tea twigs inside. Excellent with a spoonful of honey, it […]

The Mediterranean weather provides one of the best conditions for the growth of herbs, in Greece. These beneficial plants have been known for centuries and used both in cooking; for their flavors, as well as in medicine, for their healing properties. The Greek territory provides an ideal environment for herbs, which are found flourishing on mountain slopes and green fields. Although the list of local herbs is endless, we have picked some of the lesser-known ones and included them on this list. These are some of the most powerful Greek herbs to include in any diet. Wild Malotira from Crete […]

A growing body of research published in a new report by bioanalytical testing firm, Brunswick Laboratories, reveals that Greek mountain tea has significant beneficial health properties. Prominent in the Mediterranean diet and a staple amongst Greeks for thousands of years, this herbal infusion is scientifically shown to provide numerous health benefits, including antioxidant benefits comparable to green tea, which researchers have lauded in recent years for its health advantages. Greek mountain tea is a naturally caffeine-free herbal tea infusion made from the dried flowers, leaves and stems of the Sideritis plant, which flourishes throughout high elevations in the mountains of Greece. […]

Greek Mountain Tea. Image by Deyan Vasilev For centuries, inhabitants of Greece have been drinking a tea made from the flowers and stalks of a plant that grows in the mountains, and sometimes called Mountain Tea. While there are several distinct species including Sideritis scardica (which grows on Mount Olympus and has been the subject of most scientific inquiry) and Sideritis purpurea, they are also locally known as “Shepherd’s Tea,” and “Ironwort,” and in Greece it is called “Tsai Tou VouNou.” It has long been believed that drinking a tea made from this plant had beneficial properties for good health, and there is […]