Mountain tea “Sideritis ráeseri” also known as Velouchi tea.

The scientific name of the tea is ‘siderite’ and is derived from the Greek word for iron, because siderite was considered a great medicine against the wound of iron weapons, i.e. war wounds in ancient times. 

Dioscorides advises the herbal infusion of ‘mountain tea’ to soldiers as a rejuvenating, regenerative aid to help them heal faster and more fully. 

In Greece alone, 17 different species are native, highly aromatic and very productive: Sideritis raeseri (on Mount Velouchi and Mount Parnassus), Sideritis athoa (growing on Mount Athos), Sideritis clandestina (growing on the particularly rugged Mount Helmos and Taygetos in the Peloponnese), Sideritis scardica (on Mount Olympus),  Sideritis syriaca (in the mountains of Crete), Sideritis euboea (in the mountains of the island of Evia).

Traditionally it is used to aid digestion, stimulate the circulatory system and help the body to cope with colds and coughs. Modern science actually claims that tea helps prevent osteoporosis as it protects against loss of bone density and enhances the mechanical strength of bones. It also supports its popular use for the prevention of colds, flu and allergies.

Recently German scientists have discovered that Greek tea derived from mountain herbs has the ability, if the patient drinks from this tea on a daily basis for several months, to significantly reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s more than any other substance!

This fascinating plant, with its tiny pale yellow flowers, pale green buds and silvery leaves, contains large amounts of essential oils and is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols and has a wide range of phytonutrients.