What is Greek Mountain Tea? Health Benefits Explored

What is Greek Mountain Tea? Incredible Power Behind This Tea

Greek Mountain Tea is a cherished traditional tea in Greece passed down through many generations. This beloved tea brings a sense of warmth and a comforting embrace to those who sip its fragrant brew. Locals drink this tea regularly, especially when having a cold.

What is Greek Mountain Tea?

Greek Mountain Tea is known by many names including mountain tea, Shepherd’s Tea, Sideritis (Ironwort), and Tsai Tou Vounou. Sideritis is a Greek word for “He is who made of iron” and Tsai Tou Vounou meaning “Tea of the Mountain.”

Found in the Mediterranean area, in the mountains of Greece, as well as Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Albania, Mountain Tea thrives at elevations exceeding 1000 meters. This Greek tea is known for its powerful health benefits as well as its great flavor – with an earthy mild taste.

In ancient times, Greek shepherds skillfully harvested the leaves, dried flowers, and stems from the sideritis plant, recognizing their potential to alleviate various ailments.

The tea’s earthy taste, accentuated by delicate floral notes, became particularly cherished during the winter months, offering warmth and comfort to those who sought respite from the cold.

In Greece today, you can find it in local grocery stores and pharmacies, and you can even find it growing in many people’s backyard gardens.

Health Benefits of Greek Mountain Tea

There are numerous health benefits to Greek Mountain Tea which make it one of the best herbal teas you can drink, aside from green tea. The father of modern medicine, Hippocratis, commended Greek Mountain Tea for its numerous healing qualities and medicinal properties. 

With its positive impact on the immune system, respiratory systems, and gastrointestinal health, the ancient Greeks revered this tea, a sentiment that continues to endure in recent years.

Mountain tea is reported to have a positive effect on mood and the digestion system, can aid in weight loss, and prevent insulan resistance. It also has high levels of antioxidants and has significant anti-inflammatory properties. 

In addition to these benefits, it can also aid in treating cognitive decline with studies being done on its ability to treat and prevent Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. You can find some of the medical studies for further insights into the incredible power of Greek Mountain Tea at the bottom of this page.

Does Greek Mountain Tea have caffeine?

Greek Mountain Tea is caffeine-free, making it a great beverage to enjoy at any time of the day. We like to have a hot cup of tea before bed each night to help reduce mild anxiety and improve sleep, but Shepherd tea can be enjoyed as a cold brew as well.

How to Make Greek Mountain Tea

Boil water over your stove top. Then add 2-3 stems per cup of tea and lower heat.

Let it simmer for about 5-10 minutes and then let it cool for 2-3 minutes. Strain before drinking, and add some honey or lemon as preferred for extra flavor. Other options to add are cinnamon, mint, or lemongrass.

For those who prefer to drink it cold, you can add cold water to your teapot then add the mountain tea to it. Put your teapot in the refrigerator and let it steep for about 12 hours. Strain before drinking.

Where to Buy Greek Mountain Tea

You can find Greek Mountain Tea for sale on Amazon. It is organic and comes straight from Greece.

You can also find seeds so you can plant it in your own garden to grow at home.

Medical Studies:

Beneficial Effects of Sideritis scardica and Cichorium spinosum against Amyloidogenic Pathway and Tau Misprocessing in Alzheimer’s Disease Neuronal Cell Culture Models. NIH National Library of Medicine.

Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, and cytotoxic effects of Sideritis scardica extracts. NIH National Library of Medicine.

Polyphenols and Other Bioactive Compounds of Sideritis Plants and Their Potential Biological Activity. NIH National Library of Medicine.