One of the most special plants of Greece is mountain tea, which has been enjoyed by people for over 2,000 years not only for its good taste but also for its health benefits. According to Greek myths, because the Titans drank it, they became Titans.

Greek mountain tea is made from the leaves and flowers of sideritis . There are more than 150 species in this genus, 27 of which grow in Greece, and each one differs in taste, as it accumulates different amounts of the active ingredient catechins.

Sideritis grows high, on rocky mountain slopes and is adapted to survive with little water and soil.

Almost every region of Greece has its own name for sideritis tea, such as “Olympus” or “Parnassus”, after the mountain on which it grows. The most common English name is “mountain tea”, because it means “mountain tea” in Greek. It is also called shepherd’s tea, because Greek shepherds graze their flocks high in the mountains.

Mountain tea is extremely popular in Greece and is usually brewed in the winter when people have a cold or are in pain. It also helps fight indigestion, anxiety, and strengthens the immune system.

The rule of Greek grandmothers: at least one cup a day. And you will be healthy! By the way, this plant is poisonous to horses.

In ancient Greece, Dioscorides and Theophrastus claimed that sideritis helped heal wounds received by soldiers in battle. The plant’s stem resembles a spear, long and thin with a unique sepal at the tip.

Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, claimed that sideritis is most beneficial for the immune and respiratory systems. And today, in Greece, mountain tea is most commonly consumed during the winter, fighting colds, flu, and of course, Covid!

In 2011, the Journal of Ethnopharmacology analyzed the flavonoid content of all 150 species of sideritis and concluded that they have incredible effects as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antispasmodic. It was also reported that mountain tea was as powerful as green tea in reducing oxidative stress. So, the “herb of the titans”:

1. Improves memory.

2. Improves digestion .

3. Lowers blood pressure.

4. Helps bones.

5. Relieves pain and is an anti-inflammatory .

6. Reduces anxiety and stress.