My family carries on the old school art of drying flowers to “preserve” the heartwarming memory from when they were given, and this bag of Greek Mountain Tea from Klio Organic is a full on bouquet of petite yellow love from Mount Olympus!
The thick flowering stems smell of basil, and crushed mint, but feel fuzzy like sage leaves versus the roughness of traditional camellia Sinensis tea leaves. Quite a bit smaller as well, with dozens of tiny pale flowers, light green buds and silver glistening leaves.
I brewed at 175 F and immediately the scent morphs towards the hints of sage I got earlier. There are a lot of essential oils on top, and a good amount of natural sweetness in this veridian brew that would probably be fine for most folks, especially given the light citrus aftertaste. My sweet tooth, however, preferred to add a few drops of plain stevia.
Being naturally caffeine free, this is a mind clearing tea, as it’s unique flavors make you step away from the daily grind and focus on the surprise in your mug.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Klio Organic
This variety, Sideritis Scardica, comes from the legendary Mount Olympus, in the Balkans, situated between Thessaly and Macedonia. It has been tested for antioxidants by Brunswick Labs, (www.brunswicklabs.com) the leader in bio-analtyical testing. It has a mild and very pleasant taste and aroma.
One ten ounce serving of our certified organic Mount Olympus Greek Mountain Tea has an ORAC 5.0 antioxidant score of 6,600 and 160mg of polyphenols.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Organic Greek Mountain Tea by Klio
Steeping time 4 minutes, 1/2 cup boiling water, 2 g of tea leaves and stems.
I have always been an avid herb gardener (although not, alas, always a successful one) and today I noticed what exactly it is about this type of tea that I found familiar. The leaves are similar in appearance (silvery and fuzzy) and even similar in shape to Lamb’s Ear, and I think the fragrance may be similar as well, although Lamb’s Ear is not actually well-known for its smell. (Plus, I can never manage to keep it alive so I don’t actually have a Lamb’s Ear plant to compare right now). When I looked it up, I discovered that the two plants are in the same family, i.e. the Mint family . . . but then so are hundreds and thousands of other plants, so that doesn’t mean they’re actually closely related. I guess it’s just the type of family resemblance that sometimes shows up unexpectedly between distant cousins.
The other thing that the leaves remind me of is licorice, or at least those licorice-flavored herbal teas that you drink when you’re sick with a cold. (Actually I may be thinking of the combination of licorice and slippery elm flavors? But I’m not positive.) It’s not an unpleasant fragrance, and I can imagine this tea being pleasant to drink.
As I steep the tea, the fragrance emerges more, but not at overpowering levels. The tea liquid itself does not appear to change color greatly, and after steeping appears slightly yellowish but not extremely so. The fragrance hasn’t gotten much stronger in the last couple of minutes.
The first sip is not quite as flavorful as the fragrance, but it does support my impression of this tea as being similar to an herbal tea used to treat colds. It tastes slightly sweet in the back of the mouth. It doesn’t seem all that viscous, but it’s probably giving my throat a nice protective coating as I drink it. It doesn’t need sugar, which is a good thing because if you’re going to drink it every day for your health then you wouldn’t want to add sugar or you’d counteract the health benefits, right? It definitely tastes healthy, but in a good, gentle way, not in a bitter-green-smoothie type of way.
I’m not going to say that I want to replace my regularly scheduled tea breaks with this herbal tea, but since it’s caffeine free I bet it would be a great nightcap. Plus, it does have quite a soothing and calming effect, so add that to its other benefits (such as its health benefits) and it turns out to be quite a valuable beverage!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Klio Greek Tea
Description
This variety, Sideritis Scardica, comes from the legendary Mount Olympus, in the Balkans, situated between Thessaly and Macedonia.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Greek Mountain Tea from Klío™
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal Tea (Greek Mountain Tea)
Where to Buy: Klío™
Tea Description:
Greek Mountain tea (pronounced “Tsy-Too-VooNoo” in Greek, accent on the “voo”) is made from the dried flowers, leaves and stems of the native Sideritis plant which grows throughout the mountainous regions of Greece at very high elevations – typically over 3,000 feet. It is known for its high levels of antioxidants and contains large amounts of essential oils and more than 60 other compounds, including saponines, flavonoids and polyphenols. The ancient Greek philosopher Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, hailed Greek Mountain Tea for its benefits to the immune system and the respiratory system. For thousands of years, Greek families have been drinking the tea because they believe it has an abundance of health benefits. Traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial, ancient wisdom says it has a positive effect on colds, respiratory problems, digestion, the immune system and mild anxiety. Modern science is now finding many of those stories to be true: recent studies indicate that it assists in the prevention of osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s and even cancer and has a positive effect on a myriad of different ailments including colds, fevers, respiratory problems, digestion problems, and anxiety. Like all of our teas, Klio Greek Mountain Tea is a single varietal, whole leaf, organic tea, pure and unprocessed. Research has shown Greek Mountain Tea to be rich in antioxidants. The actual amounts vary by species and location. This offering of Greek Mountain Tea comes from Mount Othrys and we have tested it for antioxidants by Brunswick Labs, (www.brunswicklabs.com) the leader in antioxidant testing. One ten ounce serving of our Mount Othrys Greek Mountain Tea has an ORAC 5.0 antioxidant score of approximately 7,000 and approximately 120 mg of polyphenols.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Greek Mountain Tea from Klío™…I have been pondering this review for way too long but NOT because I didn’t enjoy it! It’s just so very different from anything I have tried before and in a category of its own to say the least. Greek Mountain Tea from Klío™ is a Tsai Tou VouNou Tea and made up of dried flowers, leaves, and stems of the native Sideritis plant which grows throughout the mountainous regions of Greece (hence the name Greek Mountain Tea).
I’ve read that Greek Mountain Tea is also known as Shepherd’s Tea, because Greek shepherds would use the herb to make tea while tending their flocks high in the mountains. But the history of this tea is more than that. The ancient Greek philosopher Hippocrates (the father of modern medicine) hailed Greek Mountain Tea for its benefits to the immune system and the respiratory system. For thousands of years, Greek families have been drinking the tea because they believe it has an abundance of health benefits. Traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial, ancient wisdom says it has a positive effect on colds, respiratory problems, digestion, the immune system and mild anxiety. Modern science is now finding many of those stories to be true: recent studies indicate that it assists in the prevention of osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s and even cancer and has a positive effect on a myriad of different ailments including colds, fevers, and respiratory problems.
I figured since we are in the middle of cold and flu season I always like to be as preventative as possible and as natural as possible so I have been sipping on this herbal tisane as of late.
Going beyond the potential benefits of Greek Mountain Tea from Klío™ I also want to touch on the sight, smell, and taste of this herbal, too!
Dry Greek Mountain Tea from Klío™ smells like a combination of Chamomile, Eucalyptus, and/or Lemon Balm OR Lemon Verbena but it’s not identical to any one of those aromas specifically or individually. Once the loose herbs are wet they smell more like Lemon Verbena with a hint of mint.
The loose herbs I am writing about here are what would make any tea or tisane fan do a double take! I will try and do my best to describe them to you a bit more. Greek Mountain Tea from Klío™ is made up of off-white fuzzy, furry, twigs, leaves, buds, blossoms, and flowers. I enjoyed inspecting them, touching them, and appreciating them prior to infusing them.
Once infused this herbal cuppa is extremely comforting, pleasant, light, thirst-quenching, and hydrating. It’s creamy and silky smooth. The mid-sip on to the after-taste is reminiscent of lemon verbena, gentle yet sweet and subtle apple, and refreshing-mintiness. It’s similar to a chamomile but quite different. It’s not as floral as chamomile tends to be and doesn’t leave a lingering musty-floral after-taste like some chamomiles tend to do.
This is truly unique and I’m so thankful I was able to sample this and review it for you. Greek Mountain Tea from Klío™ started a new sub category of tea and tisanes for those of us who enjoy the second most consumed beverage on the planet.
Greek Mountain Tea from Klío™
Keep reading to learn how you can win TWO bags of Greek Mountain Tea and a mug from Klío™!
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Klío™
Tea Description:
Greek Mountain tea (pronounced “Tsy-Too-VooNoo” in Greek, accent on the “voo”) is made from the dried flowers, leaves and stems of the native Sideritis plant which grows throughout the mountainous regions of Greece at very high elevations – typically over 3,000 feet. It is known for its high levels of antioxidants and contains large amounts of essential oils and more than 60 other compounds, including saponines, flavonoids and polyphenols.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was a bit apprehensive (and yet, excited!) to try this tea/tisane. To my recollection, I haven’t yet tried Tsai Tou VouNou – or Greek Mountain Tea – so I didn’t know what to expect from the flavor.
The dry leaf aroma is interesting. It’s herbaceous, earthy and somewhat floral. I am picking up on hints of something that makes me think “eucalyptus.” The appearance of the dry leaf reminds me (as a tea drinker) of a White Yabao type tea. Or perhaps a Yabao with lots of LARGE white silver needle tea leaves. The leaves feel like a silver needle too, they’re soft and covered with a fluffy down-like fuzz.
Because this tea is totally new to me, I decided to check out the brewing parameters recommended by Klio. I figured, hey, if I want to adjust it after that, I can always brew another pot. But for now, I thought it was a reasonable and maybe even a good idea to go with the people who know this tea just a bit better than I. From what I could gather from the brewing instructions on the back of the pouch, it looks like I should boil the tea leaves in a pot on the stove for 3 – 5 minutes and then allow to steep for an additional 3 – 5 minutes. OK.
So, I grabbed a small pan and brought 12 ounces of water to a near boil and then tossed in a “small handful of flowers and stems” (as stated in the instructions) into the pan and then I allowed this to come to a boil and boiled for 3 minutes. Then I covered the pan and took it off the heat. I allowed it to steep an additional 3 minutes.
I let the tea cool for a few minutes before taking my first sip. This was mostly out of fear of what I was about to taste more than it was out of fear of scalding my taste buds. Finally, I plucked up the courage and took that first sip. Then I took another. And another. Hmm … this isn’t so bad.
It’s actually pretty tasty!
It has a distinct herbaceous quality to the flavor. It’s sweet and a little grassy, with notes of earthiness. Notes of a lemon-y flavor. It has a little bit of a honey-esque note to it. It’s a warm taste, not abundantly “spicy” but it has a warmth to it that reminds me a little bit of sage.
It’s quite unique from anything I’ve tasted before, but at the same time, the herb-y flavors taste somewhat familiar. It’s a comforting and cozy drink, I feel it warming me inside and there’s more to it:
It has a very soothing quality to it too, as I sip it, I feel it relax me from the inside out. I have anxiety disorder and I feel the anxiety starting to slip away as I sip this, WOW! I really like that. I feel the anxiety leaving my body. I like that I can accomplish that while drinking something that is pleasant to taste.
I highly recommend trying this – it’s something that is well-regarded in Greece for it’s health benefits. Here’s something that I found on the Greek Medicine website:
Shepherd’s Tea is a very warming, stimulating beverage most known for its beneficial effects on the upper respiratory tract in relieving coughs and lung congestion. It also benefits the stomach and digestion, as well as the immune system. Scientific studies have shown that Shepherd’s Tea has considerable immunomodulatory activity in reducing excessive inflammation and edema, as well as antimicrobial activity. Shepherd’s Tea also relieves mild anxiety and contains many antioxidants.
Overall, I’ve had a very enjoyable experience with this tea from Klio! And check this out … you can WIN some of this amazing tea!
GIVEAWAY
This week’s giveaway comes to us courtesy of Klío™! They are offering a very generous prize package: TWO bags of Greek Mountain Tea plus a mug!
How to enter: It’s simple, just comment on this blog post! Include in the comment a way for me to get in touch with you if you’re the lucky winner!
Bonus entries: And of course, we’ll offer you a way to get bonus entries in this giveaway!
- Follow us on twitter!
- Follow Klio on Twitter!
- Tweet about this contest. Be sure to include #SororiTeaSister and #KlioGiveaway in the tweet so I can see it.
You’ll get a bonus entry for each of these.
This contest will run through December 4th. I will contact the winner on December 5th to obtain shipping information that will be forwarded on to Klio.
Good luck!
