Almost every region of Greece has its own name for the brew, such as "Olympos tea," and "Parnassos tea," reflecting the name of the mountain where it grows. The most common English name other than Mountain Tea is "Shepherd's Tea," because Greek shepherds would use the plants to make a brewed tea while tending their flocks high in the hills.

Mountain Tea is enormously popular in Greece, and used most often in winter when levels of physical activity decrease and colds, aches, and pains increase. It is said to have a positive effect on almost anything that ails but, most notably, it is used for colds, respiratory problems, digestion, the immune system, mild anxiety, and as an anti-oxidant. It is also used as an anti-inflammatory and to reduce fever.

Type:                     Mountain Tea
Varietal:                 Sideritis Raeseri
Produced by:          Ktima Kostopoulou
Origin:                    Frixa, Greece
Designation:           n/a
Vintage:                 2010 Harvest
Acidity:                  n/a
Packing:                12 x 40g
Sell Sheet:             Download
Producer website:   Go

Frixa Oregano
With the name Oregano or Origanum we mean the flowering tops of the perennial herb Origanum vulgaris. The origin of the name Oregano comes from ancient Greece. It is a compound from the Greek words oros (mountain) and ganos (joy), i.e. 'joy of the mountain', probably due to the fact that the oregano roots prohibit the washing of the mountain slopes by rain or just by its fantastic smell. In any case, those who have visited Greece, where oregano covers the hillsides and scents the summer air, would probably agree with this name. 

Origanum vulgaris grows exclusively to the zone containing the whole Mediterranean Basin and reaching to Central Asia. 'Origanum vulgaris', often known as 'Wild Marjoram', is an extremely invasive plant with a pink flower. Its most important subdivision is the so-called 'Greek Oregano' (Origanum heracleoticum). Greek Oregano is one very spicy herb and is by far the best oregano in the world. Greek Oregano has a flavour so intense it numbs the end of the tongue when fresh. Like all culinary oreganos, its flower is white. It has coarse, ovate, fuzzy leaves and grows up to 40cm high in bloom. It is grown in light, fairly rich, well-drained soil with pH 7.0-8.0. Use to season fish, meats, salads, sauces, and stews it has medicinal properties as well.

Oregano was used for the first time by ancient Greeks. The sweet, spicy scent of oregano was reputedly created by the Goddess Aphrodite as a symbol of happiness. Ancient Greeks believed that oregano had cathartic properties, thus, bridal couples were crowned with garlands of oregano, and the plants were placed on the tombs to give peace to departed spirits. On the other hand, oregano's power to heal was known to ancient Greeks, thus the oregano was used for medical purposes. During this time, ancient Greeks used for the first time the oregano to prepare culinary dishes.

At a later stage, Romans started to use the oregano for the same purposes like Greeks did and the oregano became a necessary ingredient in cooking and a famous medicament. From this time, the use of oregano passed to the rest of the Europeans and since then, the oregano became one of the most famous ingredients in cooking worldwide as well as an effective raw material for medicinal purposes.

Type:                     Oregano
Varietal:                 Origanum Heracleoticum
Produced by:          Ktima Kostopoulou
Origin:                    Frixa, Greece
Designation:           n/a
Vintage:                 2010 Harvest
Acidity:                  n/a
Packing:                Chopped = 12 x 100g  /  Stemmed = 12 x 40g
Sell Sheet:             Download
Producer website:   Go