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    Home » Recipes » Beverages » Tsai tou Vounou (Greek Mountain Tea)

    Tsai tou Vounou (Greek Mountain Tea)

    Published: Jan 27, 2021 · Last updated: Jan 28, 2021 by Marissa · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    32 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Tsai tou vounou is Greek for "tea of the mountain" (aka Greek mountain tea) and is also known as sideritis, ironwort, or shepherd's tea. In many Greek and Mediterranean homes, this tea is a go-to herbal remedy because it boasts lots of health benefits.

    A cup of tea on a tabletop with scattered tea leaves.

    The winter months can be long and brutally cold. You know what that means? Cold weather = trying to stay warm! I love bundling up on the couch in a giant hoodie, fuzzy socks, and blanket – and I especially love having a hot beverage to complete the package! What that beverage is depends on the night, but when I’m craving something on the healing side that’s good for me, I opt for tea. And one of the teas you’ll always find in my kitchen is Greek mountain tea, otherwise known as tsai tou vounou (tsy too vhoo-NHOO).

    Jump to:
    • 🍵 What is mountain tea?
    • 🌿 History and health benefits
    • 🛒 Where can I buy it?
    • 💧 Using the decoction method
    • 💭 Tips
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍵 What is mountain tea?

    This unique tea is considered an herbal remedy and – to no surprise, I’m sure 😉 – it’s grown and thrives in the mountainside regions in and around Greece (typically at elevations of ~3000 feet above sea level in case you’re wondering). Its leaves, stems, and flowers come from the sideritis plant (also known as ironwort or shepherd’s tea). In Greek, sideritis literally translates to “made of iron.” 

    A package of mountain tea.

    🌿 History and health benefits

    The history of this tea goes way back to ancient times. Philosopher and father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, praised its benefits for both the immune and respiratory systems. This tea has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties – and it’s said that it can have a positive effect on mild anxiety as well. Anyone who knows me will understand how very much on board I am with that. Brunswick Labs (which has since closed) did a study on mountain tea and while their site no longer exists, an archive of the published study does! I recommend checking it out if you’re interested in learning more about its benefits.

    This tea has been traditionally used to help with digestion and fight colds or the flu. I have lots of memories of my mom making this for me when I was young, though admittedly, I didn’t love the taste as a kid because it has an earthiness to it. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I started to appreciate its flavor (and benefits). That said, any typical yiayia will suggest you drink a cup (or more) of this tea regularly to keep your immune system up!

    🛒 Where can I buy it?

    In Greece, this tea can be found at grocery stores, pharmacies, etc – it's an easy item to find there. Outside of Greece, it can be found at specialty Greek shops if you have any nearby. If you don’t, there are many ways to find it online. I got your back!

    • Amazon
    • Diane Kochilas’ Shop
    • Klio
    • Zelos Authentic Greek Artisan (this one is flavored with orange peel, herbs, and spices!)
    • GreekShops
    A tied bundle of whole tea stems and leaves on a tabletop.

    💧 Using the decoction method

    Mhmm, we are getting a little scientific with this recipe! Do you know how to boil some water? Then you know how to make a decoction! This method is used for hard, wood-like substances (i.e. the stems of this tea). This isn’t a situation where you boil water first and steep the tea. You want to actively simmer the tea in the water because that will properly extract the minerals and water-soluble chemicals from the herb. After that, you can continue to steep the tea for a stronger flavor as you’d like. Yay, science!

    Whole tea stems and leaves steeping in a small pot of water.
    A pot of steeped tea with stems and leaves.

    💭 Tips

    Here are a small handful of tips to help you further enjoy this delicious tea!

    Flavor it up

    Like any tea, you can add extra ingredients to flavor it as you like. By itself, mountain tea has earthy, floral notes. Honey and/or lemon are always great options to complement this. Elevate it further by adding half a cinnamon stick or a couple of cloves to the pot while simmering! You can also add a splash of whiskey or Metaxa for a toddy-like beverage.

    Serve it iced

    This is especially a great option on a hot summer day. I recommend sweetening it with a little bit of honey before allowing it to cool. Keep it stored in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to five days.

    Break the stems

    Most packages of this tea will have the full stem, so you'll need to break them into halves or thirds to fit into your pot. You want to be sure that it can be completely covered in water when boiling.

    Interested in other refreshing beverages?

    • Sweet Iced Tea
    • Strawberry Basil Water
    A cup of tea on a tabletop with scattered tea leaves.

    📖 Recipe

    A cup of tea on a table scattered with tea leaves.

    Tsai tou Vounou (Greek Mountain Tea)

    Tsai tou vounou is Greek for "tea of the mountain" (aka Greek mountain tea) and is also known as sideritis, ironwort, or shepherd's tea. In many Greek and Mediterranean homes, this tea is a go-to herbal remedy because it boasts lots of health benefits.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Beverage
    Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 1 minute
    Cook Time: 8 minutes
    Servings: 1 person
    Calories: 1kcal
    Author: Marissa

    Ingredients

    • 10 ounces water
    • small handful of Greek mountain tea*
    • honey to taste, optional
    • fresh lemon, optional
    • splash of Metaxa or whiskey, optional*

    Instructions

    • Pour water into a small saucepan. Add in the tea, cover, and bring to a boil.
    • Reduce the heat to simmer for five minutes.
    • Remove from heat. For a stronger flavor, allow the tea to steep an additional three to five minutes.
    • Strain into a cup and discard the sprigs. Add in honey and/or squeezed lemon, if desired.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    1. Most packages of mountain tea contain the full stems and will need to be broken into halves or thirds, depending on the size of your saucepan.
    2. If you're a fan of hot toddies or a warm tea beverage with a splash of liquor, try this with some whiskey or Metaxa!
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @omgfoodblog and hashtag it #omgfoodblog!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 1mg | Calcium: 9mg
    Pinterest banner for Greek mountain tea.
    Pinterest banner for Greek mountain tea.
    Pinterest banner for Greek mountain tea.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Farrukh Aziz says

      January 28, 2021 at 4:50 am

      5 stars
      Seems refreshing! I need a really refreshing and satisfying tea recipe, and i really think this is the one I'm looking for! Can't wait to try this out!

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMGfood says

        January 29, 2021 at 10:17 pm

        You won't be disappointed! <3

        Reply
    2. veenaazmanov says

      January 28, 2021 at 10:45 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing flavor and healthy benefits. I have to check this out and get my cup ready too.

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMGfood says

        January 29, 2021 at 10:03 pm

        Yes, yes! You can't go wrong with this combo <3

        Reply
    3. jenny says

      January 29, 2021 at 3:25 pm

      5 stars
      Oh, Marissa, your tea is speaking right to my heart. I am Greek, born and raised, and loved reading this. I make τσαι του βουνού often; its the most healing thing. Thank you so much for making me feel close to home!

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMGfood says

        January 29, 2021 at 10:12 pm

        Γειά σου, Jenny! Thanks so much for your kind words. I agree it's the most healing thing. I just finished a cup now with some honey and now I'm getting ready for bed 🙂 Χάρηκα!

        Reply
    4. Holly says

      January 29, 2021 at 5:58 pm

      This tea would be a lovely change for me from my usual black tea. I'll have to look for it.

      Reply
    5. Amy says

      January 29, 2021 at 7:35 pm

      5 stars
      I love a good tea and being Chinese I have tried many different types. But I have never tried this Greek mountain tea and I'm super keen to get my hand son some now! Love the "splash" of whiskey..... just might be a bigger splash than required!

      Reply
    6. Debbie says

      January 30, 2021 at 9:20 am

      5 stars
      This is such a warm and comforting tea . Before now I had never even heard of the Greek Mountain Tea but so glad I found it. The splash of whiskey was a great touch.

      Reply
    7. Kari says

      January 30, 2021 at 5:18 pm

      5 stars
      This is such an incredibly useful post especially in such times as these that are upon us! I will definitely be searching for this in my vitamin store in Aruba or failing that, Amazon!

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMGfood says

        January 31, 2021 at 5:09 pm

        That will be super convenient if the vitamin store has it! Cheers, Kari! <3

        Reply
    8. Paula says

      January 30, 2021 at 7:46 pm

      5 stars
      I'd never heard of this tea but am always grateful for recipes to boost my immune system. It sounds wonderful, especially with that splash of whiskey lol! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMGfood says

        January 31, 2021 at 5:09 pm

        A splash of whiskey is always a nice dose of medicine 😉

        Reply
    9. Kushigalu says

      January 31, 2021 at 1:25 am

      5 stars
      So refreshing and satisfying. I would love to try this herbal tea for my family. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    10. Sam says

      January 31, 2021 at 12:06 pm

      I am a huge tea addict and love trying new flavours. I haven't tried Greek mountain tea but am super excited to! Sounds amazing.

      Reply
    11. EA Stewart says

      January 31, 2021 at 11:42 pm

      5 stars
      So interesting learning about this tea. I have a tea drawer filled with loads of different teas- I need to try this one!

      Reply

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    I'm Marissa, a loud Greek from Boston. My obsessions are food, dogs, video games, music, and Bob's Burgers. Read More →

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