Roots - Rakomelo 70cl Bottle

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As it contains alcohol, it causes vasodilation and lowers blood pressure and also has antimicrobial properties, which is why it’s used in a lot of local remedies for cough, colds, fevers, and headaches. It has also been connected to a reduction in cardiovascular and non-fatal myocardial infarction deaths. Visinada is one of the sweetest not alcoholic drinks in Greece. Visinada is made with the juice of sour cherries and mixed with syrup. Visinada is usually served cold with ice. So refreshing and perfect for summer! The economic activity of having a cauldron is not that important apart from some extra income. Above all, this practice is a tradition, and something that improves social interaction, so to be in this business is a great honour, nothing else. In the production of tsikoudia, the pot may be left open for one, two, or more days, depending on the number of grapes brought in by the “customer” for distillation. This allows for an all-day feast where the guests make their presence known at any time of the day. So the crowd builds up until intoxication sets in. There are mantinades, dancing and amateur musicians, who set the best standards for the outcome of the evening. The greetings that are heard from the red faces are sometimes original and reflect the temperament and brewing of the Cretans of the hinterland.

Rakomelo combines natural honey in complete harmony with the strong raki spirit, while cinnamon and clove buds bring the final touch to a distinctive and outstanding flavor, regardless of the real narrative. As in most greek islands, driving in Crete are slightly different than in other areas. Make sure to follow these regulations, and your trip throughout Crete should be a breeze. Just keep in mind that in Crete, traffic travels on the right side of the road and must yield to cars approaching from that direction. Additionally, this implies that vehicles entering a traffic circle are given the right of way while vehicles already in the process must yield. As far as alcohol limitations are concerned, 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood is the legal limit in Greece. This amounts to 0.05% of the total. That is equivalent to less than in the USA or the UK, and Vinsanto is a sweet wine produced in Santorini one of the most popular places to visit in Greece. Vinsanto is made of sun dried grapes and it’s perfect partnering with cheese, sweets and fresh fruits. 5. MASTICHANutritionally, yes you have the honey and the spices that can offer some antioxidants, also it is important to note that studies have found that other alcoholic drinks other than wine also contain some protective antioxidants. Also let’s not forget that drinking raki was part of the famous Cretan diet, where men there had virtually no heart disease (in the 60’s).

Apart from this, there are also beers from Crete. It’s not as famous as the others, although organic artisanal beers have been gaining increasing interest in recent years. Some of the brands include Cretan Brewery, Solo Beer, Charma Beer and the brand-new Notos Lager by Notos brewery. You might get confused between these two Mediterranean drinks quite easily. When comparing raki with ouzo, there are a few significant differences. First off, Raki has Turkish roots while Ouzo is a beverage that originated in Greece. Yes, the distillation method used in both produces a distinct aniseed flavour by using grape pulp. The alcoholic volumes do, however, vary. The primary difference is that Raki is much, much stronger than Ouzo. You can definitely taste the difference even if you can’t see it. Raki vs Cretan Beers Usually, the gatherings in the rakokazano with good company and under the sounds of the Cretan lyra with mantinades and songs that praise the everyday life, the joys, sorrows, and love certainly get the blessing of the positive energy of the participants for its production. The quality of raki is measured in degrees Celsius. A good quality raki is usually at 20 degrees. The distillation process is finished as soon as all the grapes have reached the desired level in the kettle. In Crete, the alcohol content is determined with a Baumé hydrometer, a calibrated glass tube that floats in the liquid. The alcohol content can be determined using a scale. Raki is good at 17 degrees Baumé (40% alc.) Or sometimes at 18 degrees Baumé (43% alc.). What is Rakokazano?The future of tsikoudia seems to be very promising thanks to the inspiration, insight, and dynamics of Cretan distilleries and wineries. For many years Cretan tsikoudia was produced in small quantities in every village and every household across Crete. Homemade tsikoudia was distributed mainly in plastic water bottles. A precious treasure that was generously given from hand to hand as a symbol of friendship, appreciation, joy, and well-being. Now this drink has spices like the mulled wine, but it also has Greece’s favorite sweetener: honey. It is often considered a home remedy for a sore throat, a small shot consumed in the evening. Greek Cider is the last one in the list of Greek beverages. Cider is made with fermented juice of apples a refreshing drink for anytime during the year from summer to winter. The most popular Greek cider is Milofetis. MORE GREEK DRINKS: NON ALCOHOLIC DRINKS IN GREECE 13. GREEK COFFEE / ELLINIKOS (GREEK COFFEE) Tsikoudia is a single-distillation drink, unlike Ouzo and Tsipouro. The grapes or tsikoudia, which are then pressed grapes with skins and seeds intended for tsikoudia, are kept for about 40 days after pressing in barrels where they “boil”, and fermentation takes place. The barrels are transported and placed by the distiller in the cauldron, which is placed on a base. When it is time to boil, they are put into the boiler with water. Underneath, they light a wood fire, where the grapes begin to boil. The fire should be neither too strong nor too loose. The intensity of the fire is important so that the grapes do not sizzle or burn, and the tsikoudia smokes and gets a bad smell. The distillation continues before our eyes. Find sources: "Tsikoudia"– news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR ( October 2020) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Rakomelo is famous for being a Cretan drink, although there are some versions in other Greek islands.

Cretan wine has come a long way since Sir Arthur Evans stumbled upon an ideogram for the word wine in a piece of Linear B, the earliest known form of Greek writing. The island has over 80 producers, with some outstanding efforts in Chania and Sitia. But the greater Heraklion region is where this renaissance is beating. Around 50 farmers call these long-established terroirs home, accounting for 90% of the total production. In Crete, the two indigenous grape varieties most frequently used to make wines are Kotsifali and Liatiko. Additional grapes like Mandilaria and Muscat of Spinas, as well as foreign grapes like Mourvedre and Syrah, are also used. The most extensively planted red grape in Crete is the early-maturing, light-colored Liatika. The Liatiko rosé wines from Kourkoulou, Louloudis, and Lyrarakis are all excellent drinks. The well-known local cuisine and the new generation of Cretan wines make for a delicious pairing, and they will undoubtedly make this part of your journey a culinary treat. Rakomelo is alocal Greek beverage combining raki or tsipouro with honey and several spices, including cinnamon, cardamom, and other regional herbs. Can you believe that the Greek Frappe, popular and delicious is made from Nescafe instant coffee and water. Because it is! Greek coffee can be sketos (plain coffee, no sugar, no milk), metrios (medium sweetness), glykos (sweet), and me gala (with milk). During the last decade, tsikoudia became extremely popular all over Greece, so tsikoudia of dubious quality and origin began to be traded. The high demand for large quantities of bulk low-price raki caused problems of uncontrolled distribution. An alcoholic spirit cannot be placed on the market without the production and bottling legislation being followed and without the official name of the producer or bottler on its label. Place the ingredients in a pot and boil them on a low fire, while stirring continuously. As soon as they boil sufficiently, turn off the flame and leave the rakomelo covered for approximately another 10’ to absorb the flavoring. Remove the cinnamon and cloves. Serve immediately or refrigerate in a bottle.

It is similar to tsipouro from mainland Greece, the rakı family, as well as Albanian: rakia, Spanish: orujo, Italian: grappa, French: marc, Georgian: chacha, Portuguese: bagaceira, Bulgarian: ракия, romanized: rakiya, Macedonian: ракија, romanized: rakija, Serbo-Croatian: rakija / ракија (in Istria: grappa), Romanian: tescovină, Hungarian: törköly. In the eastern part of Crete tsikoudia is commonly referred to as raki, but apparently less so in the west. and meli (honey). This is a drink that is usually served warm. You will find it in mountainous areas, even at ski resorts (yes Greece has them, 80% of Greece is mountainous). Rakomelo is made by combining raki or tsipouro - two types of grape pomace brandy - with honey and several spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom, or other regional herbs. It is produced in Crete and other islands of the Aegean Sea and on the Greek mainland, chiefly consumed during the winter as a warm drink. [3] Rakomelo can be found as a bottled mixed drink in liquor stores, ready to be served. Did you know that the Ancient Greeks put honey on wounds as a salve? They also named the ancient nymphs who were considered goddesses of bees the Melissae (meli = Greek word for honey). Honey is an excellent home remedy to soothe a sore throat, and we now know that it has antibacterial and antimicrobial powers. How? Bees deposit hydrogen peroxide into honey as they synthesize flower pollen. Because honey is naturally acidic, the result is antibacterial properties. I don’t fully understand the chemistry beyond that, but I’m here for it. CINNAMON Tsikoudia ( Greek: τσικουδιά, romanized: tsikoudiá, literally " terebinth"), also often called raki ( Greek: ρακή, romanized: rakí) in the eastern part of Crete, is an alcoholic beverage, a fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Cretan origin that contains 40% to 65% alcohol by volume. [1] Tsikoudia is made by distilling of pomace, what remains of grapes pressed in winemaking. The pomace ferments for about six weeks in a tightly sealed barrel, and is then distilled.Lemonadeis a refreshing one in the list of non alcoholic drinks in Greece. Lime juice (or squeeze fresh lemon) with soda is so refreshing with sugar added. You will see local people having Lemonade in bars and restaurants. 17. ORANGE JUICE Tsikoudia has now been established as a PDO product, representing traditional Crete all over the world. It is of high importance that tsikoudia receives due attention from the initial phase of distillation, bottling, and distribution to the final consumption. Where To Buy Raki In Crete? Originally, the name ‘raki’ was Turkish, and raki is produced in Turkey, which is anise-flavoured as compared to the Cretan one. The most famous brand of Turkish raki is “Yeni raki”. The Greek ouzo, which is similar to the Cretan raki, does not contain anise, and in taste, it is comparable to Italian grappa, and just like grappa, it is not diluted with water. Greek Beer is a must in Greece especially if you are visiting with warm weather. The most popular of the beers in Greece is Mythos which is a lager. Other popular beers in Greece are Alpha and Fix 7. Tsipouro The fresh tsikoudia (protoraki) at this stage is particularly strong, and in traditional cauldrons, where there is no cooling stage, the raki comes out almost hot. It is advised that you not to try too hard and if you want to continue with last year’s tsikoudia collection.